Harvey Elliott Set for Aston Villa Exit in January Just Five Months After He Joined Unai Emery's Side

Harvey Elliott's brief stint at Aston Villa appears headed for an early conclusion, just months after his high-profile deadline-day loan move from Liverpool in September 2025. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, once hailed as one of England's brightest talents, has found himself marginalized under manager Unai Emery, prompting speculation about an imminent exit during the January transfer window.

Elliott arrived at Villa Park on a season-long loan with an obligation to buy clause valued at around £35 million, triggered if he made 10 Premier League appearances. The deal was intended to provide the England U21 international with regular playing time after limited opportunities at Liverpool, where he contributed to their title-winning campaign last season but started only twice in the league. Villa, pushing for Champions League qualification, saw Elliott as a creative addition to bolster their midfield options.

However, the move quickly soured. Elliott has made just five appearances for Villa across all competitions, totaling a mere 167 minutes on the pitch. His last outing came as a late substitute in a Europa League match against Feyenoord on October 2, 2025. Since then, he has been consistently omitted from matchday squads, frozen out by Emery's tactical preferences for established players like Morgan Rogers, John McGinn, and Emiliano Buendía.

In a press conference on January 2, 2026, Emery confirmed the club's stance: "We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to sign him." The Spanish manager emphasized that avoiding further appearances for Elliott is deliberate to prevent activating the permanent transfer obligation. "The problem we have with Harvey is that this year he is on loan and in case he plays matches, we must buy him," Emery explained, while praising the player's professionalism amid the difficult situation.

Villa are now actively evaluating options to terminate the loan early, with reports indicating negotiations with Liverpool to reach a mutual agreement. Liverpool have no recall clause in the deal and, according to head coach Arne Slot, view Elliott as "an Aston Villa player" committed to the full season. Sources suggest Villa may need to compensate Liverpool financially to end the arrangement prematurely.

Complicating matters further are FIFA regulations: having already featured briefly for Liverpool at the start of the 2025-26 campaign and then for Villa, Elliott is ineligible to play for a third club in leagues following the European calendar this season. This rules out moves to most Premier League or continental sides, leaving limited pathways for game time.

Interest has emerged from Major League Soccer, where Charlotte FC—coached by former Villa manager Dean Smith—are monitoring the situation closely. Reliable journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Charlotte are "prepared to offer" Elliott a loan until June 2026, capitalizing on MLS's differing season structure. The club's UK connections and the upcoming 2026 World Cup in the USA could make it appealing for regular minutes. However, reports from Paul Joyce of The Times indicate Elliott is reluctant to pursue an MLS move and remains undecided on his future.

For Elliott, who dazzled at the U21 European Championship last summer—scoring five goals and earning Player of the Tournament honors—the ordeal represents a significant setback in a World Cup year.