Harvey Elliott has spoken out on his loan spell at Aston Villa, where he played just 277 minutes due to the club's PSR financial issues, and his uncertain future at Liverpool
16:40, 30 Jul 2026Updated 16:40, 30 Jul 2026
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - JULY 29: Harvey Elliott #19 of Liverpool FC walks to the bench after being removed from the pre-season friendly match against Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium on July 29, 2026 in New York City. (Photo by Dustin Satloff/Getty Images)
Harvey Elliott has spoken out about his loan spell at Aston Villa and his future at Liverpool(Image: Getty Images)
Harvey Elliott has spoken out about his troubled loan period at Aston Villa, maintaining he harbors no resentment towards the club despite his treatment.
The Liverpool midfielder is now optimistic that the arrival of Andoni Iraola could revitalize his career at Anfield, though he acknowledges uncertainty remains over his long-term prospects.
Elliott joined Villa on September 1 last year, with the Midlands club agreeing to a $47 million (£35M) obligation to purchase should he make 10 appearances throughout his loan period. However, following Monchi's exit as sporting director mere weeks later, it swiftly became evident Villa had abandoned any plans to activate the clause, given its struggles with the Premier League's Profit and Sustainability Regulations (PSR).
Elliott accumulated just 277 minutes across all competitions for Villa (110 in the Premier League), and his brief cameo for Liverpool in the dying moments of the August Bank Holiday victory at Newcastle prevented a mid-season transfer during the January window, reports the Liverpool Echo.
Villa sought to renegotiate with Liverpool to remove the clause in the January transfer window, prompting head coach Unai Emery to describe the situation as "embarrassing" for everyone involved after Anfield officials declined.
Speaking to reporters following the 1-0 triumph over Wrexham at New York's Yankee Stadium, Elliott confirmed he is determined to move past the year of limited action.
Asked whether he believed his Liverpool career had come to an end when he departed on transfer deadline day in 2025, Elliott said: "Truthfully, yes. Because I wanted a new challenge. I wanted to kind of go and explore something, come out of my comfort zone, that I thought personally that would take me on as a player again.
Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa
Harvey Elliott spent last season with Aston Villa(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)
"Unfortunately, it didn't work out, but the way I see it is, that's last season now I'm here. It's kind of a second chance, if you want to call it.
"Especially with the gaffer and new coaching staff coming in. It's another chance to impress, and hopefully get in their (good) books. But whatever happened last season, I wish Villa nothing but the very best, had a lot of love for them, and they treated me very, very well. Unfortunately, the situation happened, but it's another learning curve.
"It's a situation that I can take on in my career, and just keep looking forward. I'm here now, and I'm trying to cement my spot in the team or within the squad.
"Mentally, it was a very tough one. As I said, it was a learning curve. It was an opportunity for me to experience something new, as much as I didn't want to do it, and I don't wish it upon any other player, because it's not nice at all, but I have no hard feelings.
Harvey Elliott celebrates winning the Europa League with Aston Villa
Elliott insists he holds no hard feelings toward Aston Villa(Image: Getty Images)
"I wish them all the very best. Well, I did greatly have a lot of love for them. They treated me as one of their own, as it were, and for that I respect them highly.
"But it was tough, mentally and physically, but I'm on the other side of it now. I was able to get through it, and achieve something at the end of the season as well (with Villa winning the Europa League).
"That was another historical moment for the club, and to be part of that was another great situation. But my focus is on this season, at Liverpool, and I just need to see what happens."
Elliott disclosed that he was consistently informed about his limited game time under Emery, explaining: "He explained very, very clear and a fair few times. The whole club were very apologetic about the situation, and ultimately, it was a situation that I couldn't control, as long as I just knew 100 percent what the case was, and what the situation was.
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"It was like: 'OK, I can get over it. I know what the situation is now'. It was just about me handling it and showing my professionalism, and hopefully I'd done that within the club.
"I'm not that kind of guy who wanted to kick up a fuss, and cause problems, because no one really deserves that. It's just all part of football, and for me, as I said, it's a learning curve and an opportunity that I hope I don't experience again, but it's a situation where I know I've been able to get through it. I can do it again.
"I wouldn't say it's a lost year, because at the end of it, I won the Europa League and to have that on my CV is incredible, especially with Villa. I saw with my own eyes how much it meant for them, and I wouldn't say it's a lost year myself when you achieved something like that, because that's selfish.
"It's a situation, as I said before, I couldn't handle it, I couldn't control what was going on. It was just a case of accepting it, and just trying to get my head clear and get myself in the best position to come back here, and, I tried as hard as I could.
Harvey Elliott of Liverpool walks out before the Pre-Season Friendly match between Liverpool FC and Wrexham AFC at Yankee Stadium
Elliott has played both of Liverpool's pre-season friendlies so far this summer(Image: Getty)
"I still feel like I can get better and I'm working as hard as I can to do that. I haven't shown my 100 percent yet and I think that would take a little bit of time, because of the fact that I didn't play much last season, but I'm sure I'll get there very quick, and I'm sure I'll start feeling myself again."
Reflecting on his chances of re-establishing himself in the plans at Anfield following only a handful of starts during the 2024/25 campaign, Elliott continued: "I think I need to be more kind of cautious of my decisions.
"Ultimately, I'm still wanting to be selfish, within that aspect of doing what's right for me, and whether I'm staying here and fighting for my place, or whether that's potentially going elsewhere, I'm still unsure at this moment in time until I get some more intel.
"But I'm really happy to be back, since the first day I walked through the door at AXA, I had a big beaming smile on my face, and, as I've said before, about putting the shirt on, I don't want to take these moments for granted, because, last season, I thought it was the last opportunity I'd done it, and I'm back here now.
"I'm wearing this strip again and putting this shirt on, and I just want to be free, and just play as much as I can, and just enjoy, because sometimes I don't feel like I do it enough. Playing at Liverpool, there's no better feeling."
NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE - JULY 25: Andoni Iraola of Liverpool talking with Harvey Elliott #19 during the first half of the pre-season friendly match between Liverpool FC and Sunderland AFC at GEODIS Park on July 25, 2026 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Bill Barrett/ISI Photos/ISI Photos via Getty Images)
Elliott will be aiming to impress new Liverpool boss Andoni Iraola(Image: Getty Images)
Elliott has started both pre-season fixtures under Iraola during the American tour and revealed he is relishing the opportunity to work with the former Bournemouth manager.
"He's been incredible," Elliott said of Iraola. "Him and his coaches and his staff have been great. They've been very in detail of what they want to do and what they expect of us as players.
"Obviously, it's still kind of early days. But I think once the majority of the group join back, and a few players joined a few days ago, I think when the squad's together, that's when everything will start coming together.
"The way he's been with the senior players here, especially the younger lads as well, giving them opportunities like today and against Sunderland to go out and play and enjoy himself. It's incredible, and it's a lovely feeling at the moment.
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"Right now, I'm just thinking about making sure I'm physically and mentally 100 percent, and trying to impress on the pitch. I think when it comes to the right time of asking him, that's when I'll go and ask.
"But, ultimately, it's just down to me, as long as I'm putting in the effort of hard work and the desire on the pitch, then I feel like I have the opportunities to go in and ask, but, as I said, at this moment in time, I'm not sure. I'm just making sure I play on the pitch and give my all."