Harvey Elliott's loan move from Liverpool to Aston Villa has stalled due to a problematic obligation to buy clause preventing the midfielder from playing regularly
Paul Wheelock Head of sport
18:07, 10 Feb 2026
Michael Edwards is under pressure to fix a transfer situation
Michael Edwards is under pressure to fix a transfer situation(Image: Getty Images)
It's difficult not to sympathize with Harvey Elliott.
Following the heart-wrenching choice to depart his cherished Liverpool last summer after claiming the Premier League title, his switch to Aston Villa has been far from ideal. And his talent isn't in question. When the U21 Euros Player of the Tournament agreed to join Villa, it seemed his future lay permanently beyond Merseyside.
While the arrangement the Midlands club negotiated with Liverpool saw it acquire Elliott on an initial season-long loan, it contained an obligation to purchase him for £35 million ($47.8 million) once he accumulated 10 appearances. The midfielder appeared on track to reach that milestone when he had featured five times by early October.
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However, he was subsequently sidelined by manager Unai Emery until recently, completing the full 90 minutes of Villa's Europa League 3-2 victory at home against Red Bull Salzburg before entering as a substitute during the team's 1-0 Premier League defeat at home to Brentford.
Elliott then failed to feature in the matchday squad for the 1-1 Premier League stalemate at Bournemouth most recently, with Emery urging beforehand for the Reds to withdraw the obligation to buy clause to avoid damaging the player.
He said: "I spoke with him. We have been fair because there are two ways: one way is a sport, the second is business. We'll be fair in case, because we are trying it, and I told him, we are opening the door to play with us, because he can help us.
Harvey Elliott has barely played for Aston Villa
Harvey Elliott has barely played for Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
"But it's not only in my way and on my side. The other side is Liverpool. If they take off the clauses to play matches and for us to buy him, (I said to him), 'You are going to play here with us, it's a sport decision.' But now it's a sport decision and a business decision.
"My sport decision is still there, 'You are deserving to play, we need your qualities in the field, you are going to play.' But in case the clauses are still there, now it is Liverpool - they have the key. And I told him, it will be fair for him in case Liverpool take off this clause.
"We are speaking about it (taking off the clause), but not (just) now. We started speaking about it three months ago. Of course, the transfer window finished on Monday. It will be fair for him, because he's a calm guy, good guy, and he's a fantastic professional.
"And then his qualities are there. Of course, he must play, and he's really being patient.
"And I know we are damaging him, because we got a deal with Liverpool in the summer and the deal is there, and we are respecting the decision and taking the sporting decision responsibly from my side.
"It can change for him, in case Liverpool take off this clause. If they don't want to, okay, but the player is getting damaged."
Michael Edwards urged to take action
This means Elliott could feature in just two more matches for Villa this season before finding himself in an uncertain position. The 22-year-old couldn't secure a move to another side in January, having already turned out for Liverpool earlier this season.
FIFA regulations stipulate that a player can register with three clubs during one campaign, but is permitted to represent only two. Former Liverpool managing director and Villa chief executive Christian Purslow has now entered the fray.
On the 'Football Boardroom' podcast, he remarked: "The deal that was done, maybe by (former Villa transfer chief) Monchi and not by Unai Emery, has a perverse incentive for Unai not to pick the footballer.
"That is utterly and completely dysfunctional. Nobody benefits. Common sense would suggest compromise is required. You have a quiet word with the two sides and try to get them together. Unai needs to get together with the key player on the Liverpool side.
"This is Michael Edwards' level - he is the CEO of football. He believed he had sold Harvey Elliott on a deferred transfer and it hasn't worked out. Unai and Michael in a room. Unai would say, 'He's not going to play because we do not want to buy him.'
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"If I were Unai, I would say: 'If I didn't have this contract hanging over my head, there is a really good chance Harvey would get plenty of football between now and the summer'. I believe that if the three parties all agree, they could modify the agreement.
"Liverpool have plugged into their financial models that they will receive a transfer fee for Harvey next summer, but he is not going to be bought by Villa.
"If I were Michael Edwards, I would think that if he gets more minutes at Villa between now and the end of the season, his value will be maintained higher. But if he doesn't play football for a purely contractual reason for the next four months, everyone loses."