Liverpool boss Arne Slot has confirmed Harvey Elliott plan once his Aston Villa loan ends
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - MARCH 19: Aston Villa's Harvey Elliott during the pre-match warm-up during the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 Round of 16 Second Leg match between Aston Villa FC and Lille OSC at Villa Park on March 19, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Ian Cook - CameraSport via Getty Images)
Harvey Elliott(Image: Ian Cook - CameraSport, CameraSport via Getty Images)
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Liverpool boss Arne Slot says it’s “not for me to answer why” Harvey Elliott’s transfer to Aston Villa turned into a nightmare for the player.
Elliott joined Villa on loan for the season from Liverpool during last year’s summer transfer window, with the deal including an obligation for Villa to buy him for £35m if he played 10 Premier League matches for the club.
But Unai Emery quickly decided he did not want to sign Elliott permanently and so has only played him four times in the Premier League so far this season to avoid triggering the clause.
Elliott has also played four times for Villa in the Europa League this season and once in the League Cup.
Speaking ahead of Liverpool’s trip to Villa Park in the Premier League on Friday night, Slot said in his pre-match press conference: "I think for him (Elliott), everyone, didn't work as out as we wanted it.
"Usually sign a player on loan to use him, but hasn't happened a lot. Not for me to answer why that is, but it is never nice for not many minutes. I assume he played more with us last season, and he went there for more time.
"Such a talented player, he did so well at Under 21 Euros. You want a player like that to play more. But he went to a good team with a lot of good players. Not for me to answer, but it's always a pity when a player like that doesn't play a lot.”
Elliott will return to Anfield this summer, but it is unclear if Liverpool will try to sell him for a second time during this summer’s transfer window.
"He is contracted to us, so he will be with us at the start of next season,” said Slot.
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