Harvey Elliott’s Aston Villa spell reached its bleakest point yet on Sunday, with the Liverpool loanee once again left out of the Premier League squad — this time watching 18-year-old George Hemmings take a bench spot ahead of him for the trip to Leeds United.
For a player Villa negotiated an optional purchase clause for on deadline day, Elliott has rapidly become a fringe figure in Unai Emery’s plans. And with his appearance tally stuck at five league games, the minimum needed for a £35m obligation still distant, the club’s stance on a permanent move is becoming increasingly clear.
Villa were beaten 2–1 at Elland Road, but even in a moment of squad reshuffling without Amadou Onana, Emery showed no willingness to turn to Elliott — raising the question of what, if anything, is left for him in the Midlands.
Elliott frozen out — and numbers don’t lie
Elliott has now missed four straight Premier League squads, excluding the Liverpool game where he was ineligible. His last league minute came eight weeks ago in the 3–1 win over Fulham, when he was subbed off at half-time and hasn’t been seen in domestic action since.
Sunday’s selection was the clearest message yet: Hemmings, still developing, and stylistically different, was preferred even though senior midfielders John McGinn or Ross Barkley could have covered deeper roles if Youri Tielemans or Boubacar Kamara needed replacing.
Elliott has featured in the Europa League — where squad rules allow larger benches — but even there, his opportunities have been limited to late cameos or unused substitute listings. As things stand, it’s difficult to see a route back into Emery’s Premier League plans.
Emery explains: “Some players need more time”
Ahead of the Leeds match, Emery insisted Elliott’s exile isn’t down to poor attitude or effort, highlighting instead the demands of Villa’s midfield hierarchy and the difficulty of breaking into a side performing well.
“Some players need more time,” Emery said. “Harvey Elliott, he is working very well… his commitment is fantastic. But now it is difficult because he has other players playing and performing well — for example Emi Buendia.”
It’s a diplomatic answer, but the logic is stark: Emery is choosing not to risk triggering a £35m obligation for a player he isn’t convinced fits his system.
Contract reality: Why Elliott can’t be loaned elsewhere
If Elliott returns to Liverpool in January, FIFA rules mean he cannot join a third club this season. Having already played for Liverpool in the Community Shield and in the league against Newcastle, he would either:
- Stay at Liverpool for the rest of the campaign, or
- Remain at Aston Villa in a non-playing role if the situation doesn’t improve.
Given Arne Slot’s squad needs, Liverpool may welcome his return — but only if Villa accept they cannot offer meaningful minutes.
Our View: Why this transfer was doomed by system fit
Having followed Villa under Emery closely, Elliott’s struggles look less like personal failure and more like structural mismatch. In our view, Villa’s midfield relies heavily on physicality, ball-carriage from deep, and aggressive off-ball discipline — traits that do not align naturally with Elliott’s more creative, possession-driven style.
Although some believed Elliott could develop into a flexible option, other indications point differently: Emery’s midfield trio is among the league’s most tactically rigid. Fits that aren’t perfect tend not to survive. This seems optimistic for Elliott, but it also highlights why Hemmings — offering pace, pressing and verticality — is being preferred.
From my experience covering player integration at top-six clubs, young loanees flourish when managers design roles specifically for them. At Villa, Elliott is being asked to mould himself into a profile that isn’t his strength.
Transfer Strategy Insight – What happens next?
Villa simply cannot justify spending £35m on a player with no Premier League minutes in two months. Elliott’s January recall now looks logical for all parties, especially as Liverpool could use his creativity off the bench in a struggling season.
If he does return, Slot gains a refreshed midfielder mid-season, while Villa avoid a costly obligation.
Key Insights
- Elliott left out of four straight Premier League squads.
- Hemmings preferred over him at Leeds despite senior options being available.
- He hasn’t played league minutes since September.
- Emery says Elliott works “very well” but can’t displace in-form midfielders.
- Villa avoid triggering a £35m clause by not playing him.
What’s Next
Elliott is expected to feature in the Europa League squad vs BSC Young Boys, but his Premier League future looks bleak unless injuries force Emery’s hand. A January recall to Liverpool is becoming increasingly plausible.
👉 Villa & Liverpool fans — is Elliott’s Villa spell already over, or can he still salvage it?
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