Harvey Elliott faces a deadline to prove himself at Valencia after he was reportedly labeled as overweight, with the Liverpool loanee's future now under scrutiny
Harvey Elliott attacking midfield of Valencia and England
Harvey Elliott has been labeled as overweight by Valencia(Image: Getty Images)
Harvey Elliott has reportedly been given a deadline to prove himself at Valencia after the Liverpool loanee was described as “overweight” by the Spanish club.
The Liverpool loanee moved to La Liga late in the summer transfer window, joining Valencia on loan as he looked to rebuild his career after a difficult spell at Aston Villa. However, Elliott has arrived at a club already facing major problem s.
Valencia collected just one point from their opening five league games, leaving them bottom of the table and prompting protests from supporters aimed at the coaching staff, players and owners. After Elliott made his first two appearances from the bench, Valencia's hierarchy decided to sack head coach Carlos Corberan. B team manager Oscar Sanchez took temporary charge while the club searched for a permanent replacement.
Valencia are said to have been surprised to discover that Elliott had not completed a proper pre-season with Liverpool and arrived in Spain above his optimal playing weight. According to Marca, the issue stems from an unconventional summer in which he was involved in transfer discussions rather than following a normal fitness programme.
The situation is considered “somewhat understandable” given Elliott’s 2025/26 campaign and the disrupted nature of his summer, with the Liverpool loanee now “paying the price” for his lack of preparation.
His lack of match fitness has already been evident, with Elliott featuring from the bench in his first two appearances. He was then left out entirely against Alavés, with the game considered too demanding for his current fitness levels.
As a result, the 23-year-old will now use the international break to work on his fitness. The break is effectively being treated as a second pre-season for the Liverpool loanee.
Harvey Elliott of Valencia during the La Liga EA Sports match between Sevilla FC and Valencia CF played at Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan Stadium
Harvey Elliott is facing a challenge at Valencia early on(Image: (Photo by Antonio Pozo / Pressinphoto / Icon Sport))
Valencia had been viewed as the ideal place for Elliott to restart his career, but his lack of fitness has quickly become a concern. The Spanish club is reportedly unhappy given the significant financial commitment involved, with Valencia covering almost all of the Liverpool loanee’s Premier League-level salary.
Elliott now has three weeks to lose the weight and improve his fitness before the club expects him to be ready to make a greater impact. The international break has therefore become a crucial period for the midfielder, with Valencia keen to see him get his career at the club back on track.
Former Mexico manager Javier Aguirre, who led his country at this summer’s World Cup, was appointed Valencia head coach on Wednesday on a contract until the end of the season, with the club currently 19th after seven games.
The appointment gives Elliott a fresh opportunity to establish himself under Aguirre and earn a regular starting role. However, the Liverpool loanee risks finding himself in another difficult situation if he is unable to secure regular minutes.
So far this season, Elliott is yet to start a game for Valencia and has managed just 88 minutes of league action. He made another appearance from the bench on Sunday, but was given only 22 minutes on the pitch.