Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott appears destined to complete his season-long loan at Aston Villa despite struggling to secure regular first-team football under manager Unai Emery.
Contract Details and Appearance Clause
The Athletic reports that no break clause exists in the deadline day agreement that took the 22-year-old from Anfield to Villa Park for the 2025/26 campaign. The deal contains a significant stipulation: Aston Villa must make the move permanent once Elliott makes ten appearances for the club.
Elliott has already featured five times for Villa, though only two of those appearances have been starts. More concerning for the young midfielder is his recent absence from matchday squads, having been left out entirely for the last two Premier League games where he was eligible for selection.
Financial Motives Behind Delayed Appearances
Football finance expert Stefan Borson provided intriguing insight into Villa's potential thinking, telling Football Insider that the club are 'almost certain' to eventually trigger the purchase clause. However, he suggested delaying Elliott's appearances serves a financial purpose, allowing Villa to 'move the expenditure into the next financial year'.
There appears to be some discrepancy regarding the transfer fee, with Liverpool understood to value the obligation at £35 million, while Villa consider the figure closer to £30 million.
Emery's Explanation and Adaptation Challenges
Unai Emery has addressed Elliott's limited involvement, explaining the player's positional challenges within Villa's system. 'Harvey is a 10 number in our structure, in our shape,' the Villa manager stated. 'He plays some matches and there is still adaptation to add himself individually in our structure, the task we have.'
Emery acknowledged Elliott's positive training attitude but emphasised that his performances haven't yet met expectations, with other players in the number ten role currently delivering stronger contributions.
The situation presents Elliott with limited options, as FIFA regulations prevent him from joining a third club this season after already featuring for both Liverpool and Aston Villa. All indications suggest the midfielder will remain at Villa Park beyond the January transfer window, with both clubs reportedly content to continue with the existing arrangement despite the player's reported dissatisfaction with his current situation.
