Harvey Elliott arrived at Aston Villa in the summer window seeking a fresh path. He had grown frustrated at Liverpool, where Arne Slot used him sparingly, and the minutes he expected never really came.
Villa manager Unai Emery believed he could give Elliott a stage to rebuild his confidence, so the club brought him in on loan. However, the early weeks have told a different story. Elliott has featured just seven times across competitions and has scored once, which has raised questions about his place in Emery’s plans.
Harvey Elliott, on loan at Aston Villa, can return to Liverpool in January 2026
Former Aston Villa chief Keith Wyness mentioned that Elliott’s loan agreement includes an obligation for Villa to buy him permanently for £35 million if he reaches 10 appearances. However, Elliott has made only four league appearances so far, and that number appears to be growing slowly. Wyness suggested that Liverpool may want him back in January, especially with their squad facing its own issues as new arrivals try to settle.
Meanwhile, some Liverpool supporters feel that the Englishman could have offered more energy and clarity than certain current midfield options. His situation at Villa therefore sits between potential and hesitation, leaving the next step uncertain. Meanwhile, other reports have even revealed that Aston Villa are keeping close tabs on Alysson.
“I am surprised because I think he’s a good player, but he hasn’t quite taken the eye of Emery.
“Now, there’s also a big conspiracy theory going on right now. He’s on loan, and if he gets 10 games, then he triggers the obligation to buy.
“There’s talk that Liverpool want him back as well, so if the loan isn’t confirmed, then he could come back to Liverpool. Perhaps Liverpool are wishing that they had him there right now on the bench while they’ve got issues with all these new expensive signings.
“A lot of the Liverpool fans I’ve been speaking to would have been much happier to have Elliott on the field than some of these other players.”
Villa should limit his actions on the field
The best option for Aston Villa is to limit Harvey Elliott’s playing time to avoid triggering the permanent £35 million transfer clause. Under Unai Emery, the 23-year-old has seen limited action, starting only one Premier League match, and Emery has even left him out of the squad entirely on occasion. The Spaniard has publicly stated that Elliott’s performances have not met the required standards and that other players remain ahead of him in the pecking order.
Given this, forcing a £35 million purchase for a player who is not consistently part of the manager’s plans would be poor financial management and could risk damaging squad morale. Instead, Villa should maintain their current strategy of using Elliott only when needed but avoiding the 10-appearance mark that would trigger the obligation. This approach protects funds and prevents the club from committing long-term to a player who has not convinced the coaching staff yet.
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