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Harvey Elliott is spending the season on loan at Aston Villa and the Liverpool loanee faces an uncertain future
Harvey Elliott during an Aston Villa game
Harvey Elliott is spending the season on loan at Aston Villa from Liverpool(Image: Justin Setterfield/Getty Images)
Here, the Liverpool ECHO takes a look at the latest on Harvey Elliott’s future amid his loan spell at Aston Villa...
Loan status at Aston Villa: Harvey Elliott will remain at Aston Villa for the remainder of the 2025/26 season following the closure of the winter transfer window. Although there were discussions regarding a potential early return to Liverpool, no agreement was reached before the deadline passed.
The purchase obligation clause: The current loan agreement includes a clause requiring Villa to sign Elliott permanently for £35 million if he reaches ten senior appearances. Unai Emery has publicly stated that the club decided months ago that they are not convinced about making this significant financial commitment.
Current appearance count: Elliott has currently made seven appearances for Villa, leaving him just three games away from activating the mandatory transfer fee. This proximity to the limit led to him being left out of the squad for several months to avoid activating the £35m payout.
Emerging injury crisis lifeline: Despite the transfer standoff, Elliott has recently been handed a "lifeline" due to long-term injuries to Villa midfielders Boubacar Kamara, John McGinn, and Youri Tielemans. He recently made his first start in over 100 days during a Europa League match against RB Salzburg and appeared as a substitute against Brentford.
Ongoing club negotiations: Reports from The Daily Mail indicate that Liverpool and Villa are holding talks to revise the loan arrangement even though the transfer window has closed. Potential solutions include raising the appearance threshold beyond ten games or converting the mandatory obligation into an option to buy.
Liverpool’s stance and future: Liverpool reportedly had no option to recall Elliott in the January window, with head coach Arne Slot indicating that Elliott does not currently feature in his immediate plans. The 22-year-old is expected to return to Anfield in the summer, where it remains to be seen what could happen with his future.