Harvey Elliott Set for Medical as Liverpool Exit Agreed

From Fulham Prodigy to Liverpool Prospect

When Harvey Elliott first broke through as a precocious teenager at Fulham, few doubted his technical flair and confidence on the ball. By the time Liverpool snapped him up at 16, paying a tribunal-set maximum of £4.3m in compensation, the consensus was clear: here was one of English football’s brightest young stars.

Fast forward six years and the story has taken a new turn. Elliott, now 22, is on the brink of leaving Liverpool permanently, with a move to Aston Villa all but sealed. Sky Sports reports that Elliott has already travelled to Birmingham to complete his medical. The deal will initially be a season-long loan, but it comes with an obligation to buy worth £35 million, making it a transfer that effectively marks the end of Elliott’s Liverpool career.

For a player once tipped to carry Liverpool into their next era, it’s both a bittersweet farewell and a fascinating new chapter.

What Happened?

The mechanics of the deal are straightforward but significant. Elliott will join Aston Villa on loan for the 2025-26 season, giving Unai Emery an immediate boost in midfield and attack. Crucially, the deal includes a purchase obligation that means Villa will pay Liverpool £35m next summer.

Liverpool had initially hoped for a fee in the region of £40-50m, but with competition for Elliott’s signature less intense than once expected — and with the player himself keen on staying in England rather than exploring a move to RB Leipzig or elsewhere abroad — the Reds were prepared to accept the slightly lower figure.

For Elliott, the move is about more than money or even playing time. It’s about career stability. After years of being on the periphery at Anfield, he now has the chance to establish himself as a starter in a side pushing for European football.

Crystal Palace v Liverpool – 2025 FA Community Shield

The Bigger Picture: Life After Klopp

Context is everything in football, and Elliott’s situation has been shaped heavily by Liverpool’s managerial transition.

Under Jurgen Klopp, Elliott played over 50 games in the German’s final season, operating both as a right-sided midfielder and as a wide forward. Klopp admired Elliott’s work ethic and energy, often trusting him in games where intensity mattered more than experience.

However, Klopp’s successor Arne Slot has brought in new ideas, new competition, and new priorities. The high-profile signing of Florian Wirtz, a generational attacking midfielder from Bayer Leverkusen, meant Elliott’s path to the starting XI became increasingly blocked. Add to that the presence of Dominik Szoboszlai, Curtis Jones, and Luis Díaz, and the writing was on the wall.

Put simply: Elliott was too talented to sit on the bench, but not quite indispensable enough to stay ahead of Liverpool’s shifting plans.

Why Aston Villa?

At first glance, some fans might wonder why Elliott would choose Aston Villa over clubs abroad or even elsewhere in the Premier League. But the logic is clear.

1. Managerial Fit

   • Unai Emery has a track record of nurturing technically gifted players, giving them responsibility in big games, and helping them flourish. His system requires creativity and composure — two of Elliott’s best traits.

2. Guaranteed Minutes

   • At Villa Park, Elliott will not be one of five or six players rotating for the same role. Instead, he will be viewed as a key signing, particularly with Villa also completing a deal for Jadon Sancho. The pair could form part of a rejuvenated attacking unit.

3. Staying Close to Home

   • Elliott reportedly preferred to stay in England rather than move to RB Leipzig, which was interested but unwilling to match Villa’s structured deal. For a 22-year-old still finding his rhythm, remaining in familiar surroundings could prove crucial.

4. European Ambition

   • Aston Villa are not just a mid-table side anymore. Emery has transformed them into genuine contenders for the top six, and Elliott will relish the chance to play in European competitions in claret and blue.

Did You Know?

• Elliott was the youngest player ever to feature in the Premier League when he made his debut for Fulham at just 16 years and 30 days.

• Liverpool fans fondly remember his dazzling display in the 2022 FA Cup semi-final against Manchester City, when his cameo showcased his fearlessness against elite opposition.

• At Liverpool, Elliott scored seven goals and registered 11 assists across all competitions, though most came in cup or rotation matches.

• Villa’s £35m fee represents nearly a tenfold profit for Liverpool, who spent just £4.3m to bring him from Fulham.

What Next for Liverpool?

England v Germany – UEFA European Under-21 Championship 2025 Final

While Elliott departs, Liverpool’s transfer activity continues at a frenetic pace.

• The Reds are pushing hard to finalise a £130m move for Alexander Isak from Newcastle, a deal that would reshape their forward line.

• They are also close to wrapping up a deal for Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace, strengthening the defence.

• Goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez, once a prime target, is no longer expected to join after Manchester United turned their attention to Senne Lammens of Royal Antwerp.

For Arne Slot, it’s about building a squad tailored to his tactical blueprint, even if it means letting go of fan favourites like Elliott.

What Next for Aston Villa?

For Villa fans, the double signing of Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho is nothing short of a statement. Emery has been steadily assembling a squad that can compete on multiple fronts, and adding two technically gifted, Premier League-experienced attackers suggests Villa are serious about mixing it with the elite.

The question now is how Emery will fit them in. Elliott has the versatility to play:

• As a No. 8 in a midfield three,

• As a No. 10 drifting into pockets, or

• Out wide, particularly on the right, cutting inside on his favoured left foot.

His tactical flexibility makes him a dream addition for a coach like Emery.

A Career Reset for Elliott

For Elliott, this move feels like a chance to reclaim his trajectory. Once hailed as the next big star of English football, he now finds himself at a crossroads. Too often at Liverpool, he was the “squad player who could do a job.” At Villa, he has the chance to be the main man — a creative heartbeat in a team looking to break barriers.

And for Villa, signing a 22-year-old English talent for £35m could prove to be one of the smartest pieces of business of the summer window.

Conclusion: The End of One Journey, the Start of Another

As Harvey Elliott completes his medical and edges closer to donning the claret and blue of Aston Villa, Liverpool fans will reflect on a career that promised much but never quite fulfilled its potential at Anfield. That’s not to say Elliott failed. On the contrary, he provided flashes of brilliance, played key roles in Klopp’s final campaigns, and leaves as a player admired for his professionalism.

But sometimes, careers need a reset. And for Elliott, Aston Villa offers exactly that: a chance to start fresh, to play regularly, and to prove why he was once considered one of England’s brightest young talents.

At just 22, his story is far from finished. If anything, this could be the chapter where Harvey Elliott finally fulfils his promise — just not at Anfield.