Aston Villa are poised to prematurely end Harvey Elliott's loan spell when the January transfer window opens, following a disappointing stint for the midfielder at Villa Park.
Loan Move Fails to Deliver for Elliott
The 22-year-old Liverpool player joined Villa on a dramatic Deadline Day deal last summer after the club's pursuit of Lucas Paqueta collapsed. Elliott sought the move to secure regular first-team football, crucial for his ambitions of featuring in the 2026 World Cup under England manager Thomas Tuchel, following his standout role in England's Euro U21 triumph where he was named Player of the Tournament.
However, the reality has fallen drastically short of expectations. Elliott has managed a mere 97 minutes of Premier League action for Unai Emery's side. His last appearance was a four-minute cameo in the Europa League against Feyenoord back in October, clearly indicating his peripheral status within the squad.
Villa to Activate Early Exit Clause
Renowned transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano provided a clear update on the situation, stating the player's time in Birmingham is effectively over. "Aston Villa decided to go for Harvey Elliott very last minute. But he's not playing, and so Liverpool are obviously not happy. The player is not happy, and Villa want to find a solution," Romano said during a Christmas Day transfer round-up.
The original agreement included a £35 million obligation to buy clause, but both clubs are now negotiating an early termination of the loan deal. This would see Elliott return to Anfield and relieve Villa of the pending permanent financial commitment. Romano confirmed Elliott is "not expected to stay at Aston Villa, where he's not playing, where he's not an important player" to manager Unai Emery, despite the Spaniard being satisfied with his attitude in training.
Limited Options Await on Merseyside
The premature return presents a significant complication for Elliott's season. Under FIFA regulations, a player cannot represent more than two clubs in a single season. Having already made two appearances for Liverpool before his Villa move, he is ineligible to join a third club on loan in January.
His immediate future now rests with Liverpool manager Arne Slot, who must decide whether to integrate him into the first-team setup at Anfield. Otherwise, the midfielder once hailed as 'outstanding' by Alan Shearer faces the prospect of spending the remainder of the campaign on the bench until the summer transfer window offers a fresh start.
