Harvey Elliott completed 90 minutes for Aston Villa during a Europa League game on Thursday, after which Unai Emery gave an update on the player’s future
Harvey Elliott played for Aston Villa on Thursday night(Image: 2026 Getty Images)
Unai Emery confirmed that his stance on Harvey Elliott remains unchanged, despite handing the Liverpool loanee his first Aston Villa appearance in nearly four months.
Elliott completed 90 minutes in Villa’s Europa League game against RB Salzburg on Thursday, having last played for the club at the beginning of October. After the influx of attacking talent at Anfield this past summer, it was decided he would leave the club for the best of his career.
Elliott joined Villa from Liverpool on a season-long loan deal last summer, with the agreement including an obligation for Villa to sign him permanently on the condition that he makes 10 first-team appearances for Emery’s side.
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It quickly became apparent after Elliott joined Villa that Emery was not convinced by the 22-year-old, and the Villa boss confirmed earlier this year that he had stopped played Elliott because he didn’t want to trigger the compulsory buy order in the deal.
Speaking at the start of January, Emery said: “We have the issue with Harvey Elliott. Again, I am respecting all I can because he is a very good guy, a professional and respectful guy.
“The situation he has with us is something I must take a decision on, but trying not to damage the player as less as possible.
“He deserves the best for him… the problem we have with Harvey is that he is on loan, and in case he plays matches we must buy him.
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND – JANUARY 29: Harvey Elliott of Aston Villa acknowledges the fans after the UEFA Europa League 2025/26 League Phase MD8 match between Aston Villa FC and FC Salzburg at Villa Park on January 29, 2026 in Birmingham, England. (Photo by Dan Istitene/Getty Images)
“We decided two months ago that we are not convinced to sign him, spending the money we would need to. This is the only issue.
“He is training every day with very good behaviour and to help us in training sessions. This is not something good for us and him, but this is football and sometimes we must make decisions.”
Elliott was named in a gameday squad for the first time in nearly two months last weekend, as Emery took his team to Newcastle in the Premier League.
The youngster was an unused substitute in that game, but was named in Villa’s starting line-up for the Europa League meeting with Salzburg, which Villa won 3-2 to secure a second-place finish in the league phase.
Despite completing the game, Emery said that the situation surrounding Elliott’s long-term future remains unchanged.
“His situation doesn’t change,” Emery said, bluntly. “He played a fantastic game today but our idea with him doesn’t change.”
