Aston Villa boss Unai Emery has given a blunt update on Harvey Elliott. He confirmed the midfielder is still frozen out of the team. This is despite Elliott making a surprise return to the bench against Newcastle United. Reports from The Athletic point to a major standoff between the club and the player.
Harvey Elliott’s Aston Villa Future Hangs by a Thread
It all comes down to a contract clause. If Elliott plays five more times, Villa must purchase the 22-year-old for somewhere between £30 million and £35 million. Even though Elliott was at St James’ Park, Emery made it clear that he only picked him because he had to, not because the plan had changed.
Before Villa’s Europa League game against RB Salzburg, Emery explained that nothing has changed for the England international. Villa’s recruitment team decided months ago that they wouldn’t trigger the permanent move. That decision has left Elliott stuck on the sidelines since his last game on October 2.
A wave of injuries recently gutted Villa’s midfield. It forced the club to bring Douglas Luiz back early from his loan at Juventus and meant Emery had to use Elliott as a backup. But the manager is sticking to his guns. Unless more players get injured, he plans to keep the Liverpool loanee on the sidelines until the window shuts on February 2.
“The problem we have with Harvey (Elliott) is this year he is on loan, and in case he is playing matches, we must buy him,” Emery said on January 2.
“We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we need. This is the issue.”
Now, the manager has stated, “There are still five days to finish the window. Everything we accepted before, only some injuries can change it, like Douglas Luiz, who is a player joining us because we had injuries in centre midfield. With Harvey, it’s not changing. Our idea is that we spoke to him clearly. He’s a fantastic guy.
“On Sunday, he was on the bench, and if we needed some help from him, he was ready to do it. He is in the squad tomorrow. But the situation is not changing for him that he has now.”
Villa would have to pay Liverpool a fee to end the loan early. That makes things even messier, especially since Elliott can’t play for a third European club this season anyway.
Villa’s Midfield Crisis and the Elliott Conundrum
NEWCASTLE UPON TYNE, ENGLAND – JANUARY 25: Substitute, Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa looks on during the Premier League match between Newcastle United and Aston Villa at St James’ Park on January 25, 2026 in Newcastle upon Tyne, England. (Photo by George Wood/Getty Images)
Aston Villa are trying to juggle European football with a massive injury list at home. The team have lost Boubacar Kamara for the rest of the season. John McGinn and Youri Tielemans are also out for a long time. These injuries have left the team with a massive hole in midfield.
This explains why fans are so baffled by the Elliott situation. The team are desperate for some spark, but the club’s bank balance means they are leaving a top playmaker in the stands. Villa are choosing long-term financial health over short-term depth. It’s a huge gamble that puts all the pressure on Douglas Luiz to fix the midfield right away.
For Elliott, the 2025/26 season is turning into a total waste. The 23-year-old’s career has hit a wall. He has only played five times and hasn’t had a real chance to improve. The situation doesn’t help anyone. Villa are paying wages for a player they won’t use.
Meanwhile, Liverpool are watching their English player’s market value drop. The best fix would be for Liverpool to drop the recall fee or for Villa to talk them down on the price so they can actually use him.
But with the window closing in just a few days, Elliott will likely spend the next six months training without any game time. Unai Emery seems happier playing academy kids or exhausted starters rather than spending big money. It’s a clear sign he doesn’t see Elliott in his long-term plans.
