Unai Emery has spoken out on the Harvey Elliott situation at Aston Villa, admitting the transfer loan saga is "embarrassing for everyone"
14:45, 14 May 2026Updated 14:51, 14 May 2026
Unai Emery speaks to Harvey Elliott
Unai Emery speaks to Harvey Elliott(Image: Neville Williams, Aston Villa FC via Getty Images)
Unai Emery has conceded that the Harvey Elliott situation is "embarrassing for everyone" and revealed he feels compelled to apologize to the Liverpool loanee on a daily basis.
Aston Villa brought Elliott in on loan from Liverpool on deadline day in September, with an obligation to purchase him permanently should certain criteria be fulfilled. Elliott would have become a Villa player on a permanent basis for £35 million ($47 million) had he clocked up 10 Premier League appearances.
Yet, he has managed just four outings in the league and nine appearances across all competitions, meaning he has seen precious little action under Emery this season, with Arne Slot confirming plans to return to Liverpool for pre-season.
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With Villa's final home fixture of the campaign against Elliott's parent club, Liverpool, looming on Friday evening, Emery was pressed on the matter.
"To now explain about the reason for this decision is very difficult, or it is easy, but it is not the moment," Emery said. "Of course, it is something embarrassing for everyone involved.
"My apologies for Harvey Elliott is every day in my mind. But it is [about] responsibility. We have our responsibility and Liverpool have their responsibility. It is something, as a human and as a person, how the season has gone has been difficult."
Villa had been eager to have the obligation-to-buy clause removed, but with Emery's side directly competing with Liverpool for Champions League qualification, negotiations proved fruitless.
Back in February, Emery addressed his reluctance to field Elliott, in order to avoid triggering the permanent transfer fee. "I spoke with him. We have been fair because there are two ways: one way is a sport, the second is business," the Villa boss said. "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.
Aston Villa's Harvey Elliott
Aston Villa's Harvey Elliott(Image: Mike Egerton/PA Wire)
"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.
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"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."