All you need to know about Harvey Elliott’s future, including his increasingly likely return to Liverpool in January, his nightmare situation at Aston Villa, and what the future could hold for him
Jack Staplehurst and Clive Hetherington
10:08, 01 Dec 2025
Aston Villa’s Ross Barkley (left) and Harvey Elliott warming up on the touchline during the UEFA Europa League, league phase match at Villa Park, Birmingham. Picture date: Thursday November 27, 2025. PA Photo. Photo credit should read: Nick Potts/PA Wire.
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Everything you need to know about Harvey Elliott’s future with a return to Liverpool in the pipeline, and where he could end up after his Aston Villa nightmare…
Limited Playing Time: Despite joining to gain more minutes, Elliott has struggled to become a regular under manager Unai Emery. He has currently made only five appearances for the club, which is exactly halfway to triggering the costly obligation, and he failed to make the squad for Villa’s 1-0 Premier League win over Wolves on Sunday.Manager’s selection: Unai Emery has publicly stated that Elliott’s lack of minutes is primarily due to strong competition for places from other players who are performing very well. This suggests the decision is based on current form and squad balance, though some speculate the club may be deliberately avoiding the trigger clause.Interest from others: West Ham and RB Leipzig want to be kept informed about Elliott’s uncertain future, as per the Mirror. The Liverpool playmaker attracted the Hammers’ attention in the summer, while Leipzig came close to signing him.Agreed terms: Elliott agreed terms on a four-year deal with the Bundesliga side, whose head of global soccer is his former Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp. But they were unable to settle on a fee with the Reds.Next move?: West Ham and Leipzig now see the 22-year-old as a potential target next summer. There may be renewed interest from Brighton and Nottingham Forest, among others.Obligation and return: Villa took him on loan to the end of the season on deadline day, but sources say he could return to Anfield in January if all parties agree. Villa’s obligation to buy Elliott next summer for £35million is conditional on a set number of appearances, believed to be 10.Villa’s financial restrictions: Given Villa’s need to adhere to UEFA’s Profit and Sustainability Regulations, avoiding a significant spend on a fringe player is viewed as a financially pragmatic decision. As a result, it makes little sense for Liverpool to force him to stay at Villa Park and not agree a return.FIFA rules: He has appeared for two clubs this term. Under FIFA rules, if he was to play for a third, they would have to be foreign as their season would have to overlap that of the Premier League, such as the MLS.