How Aston Villa convinced Harvey Elliott to leave Liverpool amid £35m deadline day move

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TBR Football understands that Harvey Elliott has left Liverpool and completed a deadline day move to Aston Villa.

The 22-year-old has faced an uncertain future all summer and put himself in the shop window after an impressive showing at the Under-21 European Championships.

Several Premier League clubs registered interest in Elliott, including former club Fulham, West Ham United, Crystal Palace, and Tottenham, but none developed into a concrete move.

Sources informed TBR Football on Thursday that Liverpool had no intention of selling Elliott, even if a club were to match their valuation.

However, Liverpool have now agreed to a loan deal with Aston Villa including an obligational purchase clause of £35 million; a permanent deal could not be sanctioned due to UEFA financial restraints.

Exclusive: Aston Villa convinced Harvey Elliott to leave Liverpool

According to TBR Football chief correspondent Graeme Bailey, Liverpool love Elliott, but once Aston Villa sold the midfielder on the project at Villa Park, the Reds hesitantly decided to sanction his departure.

“A lot of it was down to the player, and the club in Villa that came in for him. Liverpool were of the mind to keep Harvey beyond Monday; they love him as a player, and their new shape could suit him.

“Jurgen Klopp wanted him at RB Leipzig, and they were close, but they could not come close on the deal.

“Now we have seen Villa come in, they have sold the project to Harvey and really think he could help take Villa forward, and he is excited to be making the move.”

Aston Villa have done remarkably well to agree a reasonable fee with Liverpool. As TBR Football previously revealed, the Reds valued Elliott at around £50m, but were only willing to go as low as £40m if the sale included a buy-back clause.

Once it became apparent that the 2025/26 campaign would not bring more minutes at Anfield, Elliott expressed his desire for first-team football and will arrive at Villa Park with the expectation of becoming an immediate starter.

Elliott will not be the only deadline day arrival for Unai Emery after Villa agreed to sign Jadon Sancho from Manchester United in another loan deal for the club.

Harvey Elliott and Jadon Sancho are excellent signings for Aston Villa

Although both are arriving at Villa Park having been pushed to the sidelines at their respective clubs, their acquisitions are a significant boost for Emery.

Sancho has rejected multiple offers to leave Old Trafford throughout the summer; this is a clear indication that the project being built at Villa Park is the only option that has enticed him.

Meanwhile, Elliott has demonstrated a genuine desire to establish himself as a regular Premier League starter and has made the decision to leave the club he supports to further his career.

The Villans will boast an exciting front line this season, filled to the brim with homegrown talent, and having managed to do so while remaining within their financial means.