Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott of Liverpool celebrate the teams victory and confirmation of winning the Premier League title after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images)placeholder image
Wataru Endo and Harvey Elliott of Liverpool celebrate the teams victory and confirmation of winning the Premier League title after the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Tottenham Hotspur FC at Anfield on April 27, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Carl Recine/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Liverpool transfer news as Harvey Elliott is offered an escape route from Aston Villa.
Charlotte FC boss Dean Smith has confirmed he’s open to giving Harvey Elliott an escape route in the USA.
Elliott finds himself frozen out at Aston Villa, having joined Liverpool’s Premier League rivals on summer transfer deadline day. The attacking midfielder completed a season-long loan to Villa Park, with Unai Emery’s side having an obligation to purchase for £35 million if he makes 10 appearances.
Elliott moved to the Midlands as he hoped to get regular game-time as he did not make a single start en route to Liverpool winning the Premier League title last season. But it has been quite the opposite, with the former England under-21 international frozen out at Villa, having played only five times.
Emery is trying to ensure that Villa do not have to buy the former England under-21 international, especially given they have sailed close to financial rules in the Premier League and in Europe.
As Elliott played for Liverpool before his move to Villa, FIFA rules prevent him from representing another European club this season. He can, however, play in a different association so Major League Soccer is an option.
Charlotte finished in the play-offs last season, with ex-Villa, Leicester City and Brentford manager Smith serving as head coach since December 2023. And he admitted that he has made an ambitious move for Elliott.
Speaking to Sky Sports, Smith said: “I put the feelers out, obviously, when I was over there. I was thinking about it and thought, there is an opportunity here. If he is not going to play at Villa and he can’t play anywhere else, then it would be an option for him to come and play some games up until the World Cup break.
“If he is not playing between now and the World Cup, it is a shame. There is an opportunity for him to come out and play here if that is what Liverpool or Villa wanted to do.”
Elliott is reportedly reluctant to complete a move to the MLS, with the standard of the league significantly lower than the Premier League.
Villa want to terminate Elliott’s loan this month but Liverpool are so far reluctant to do so. A financial penalty will be required if Elliott is to return to Anfield. Villa are reportedly looking to sign Ruben Loftus-Cheek from AC Milan to cover the injury to Boubacar Kamara, who has sustained a long-term knee injury.
Elliott has not made an appearance for Villa since the start of October. On the situation, head coach Emery said earlier this month: "The problem we have with Harvey is that this year he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him.
"We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to sign him. This is the only issue. He is training every day, always every day with very good behaviour and to help us in training sessions.
"This is not something good for him and good for us, but this is football and sometimes we must take some decisions which are not good for everyone."
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