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EPL Transfer Window Shuts Once Liverpool knew that Alexander Isak was Anfield-bound on deadline day, they sanctioned the departure of Harvey Elliott to Aston Villa. It was a decision that made sense. Elliott was desperate to play more regularly after finding his opportunities limited under Arne Slot. He won player of the tournament at this summer’s European Under-21 Championship with England and wanted to kick on rather than face another season stuck on the fringes of the squad. Advertisement Playing for the club he grew up supporting meant everything to the attacking midfielder, but with a World Cup on the horizon, it was time to be led by his head rather than his heart and embrace a new challenge. From Liverpool’s perspective, having invested so heavily in reshaping their attack this summer, they were prepared to give Elliott what he wanted as long as the deal on the table was sufficiently attractive. The inclusion of sell-on and buy-back clauses had an impact on the size of the fee the Premier League champions could demand. To help Villa adhere to profit and sustainability rules (PSR), it was agreed that Elliott would join on an initial season-long loan with an obligation to buy for £35million ($47. 3m) next summer as long as he makes at least 10 appearances in 2025-26. Liverpool stand to make a hefty profit given that a tribunal ruled that they only had to pay Fulham £1. 5m, potentially rising to £4. 3m, after signing Elliott at age 16 in 2019. Not all those performance-related add-ons have been triggered — he is yet to receive a senior England cap, for example. However, the feeling persists that Villa have got themselves a bargain, especially when you look at comparable deals that been done this summer. Tyler Dibling went from Southampton to Everton for £40m, Mateus Fernandes from Southampton to West Ham for £38m, Jacob Ramsey from Villa to Newcastle United for £40m and Omari Hutchinson from Ipswich Town to Nottingham Forest for £37. 5m. None of those names has come close to matching Elliott’s achievements in his career. At 22 years old, he has already made 149 appearances for Liverpool — a figure that is even more impressive when you consider he spent a season on loan at Blackburn Rovers and was sidelined for five months with the fractured and dislocated ankle he suffered at Elland Road in September 2021. He has been a highly valued member of a squad that won seven trophies, including two Premier League titles. Advertisement Maybe it’s his 5ft 7in (170cm) frame in an era when managers seem to place so much emphasis on pace, power and athleticism, but given how technically gifted he is, Elliott is underrated. Some players develop a reputation that simply doesn’t stack up with what they have actually delivered on the field but with Elliott, the opposite is true. At Villa Park, he will get the regular starts he craves and he will shine. Those clubs who considered signing him but opted against it will be kicking themselves. Leipzig’s interest was well documented but, strangely, they weren’t prepared to pay more than €20m (£17. 3m; $23. 4m). The buy-back clause gives Liverpool the security of knowing that if Elliott fulfils his potential, as they expect him to, then his Anfield career can be resumed in the future. In the meantime, he will be missed. Slot has lost one of his real impact substitutes from last season. Elliott’s only start in last season’s Champions League was in the dead rubber away to PSV and his only two Premier League starts came after the title had already been secured. But he continually made important contributions off the bench. In 2024-25, 22 of his 28 appearances in all competitions were as a substitute. His role as an impact player took some adjusting to, given he made a combined 52 starts across Jurgen Klopp’s final two seasons in charge. The most eye-catching cameo last term was away to Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League last 16 in March when he scored the winner with his first touch, just 47 seconds after replacing Mohamed Salah. When he returned to the away dressing room at Parc des Princes, there was a warm ovation from his team-mates, who were informed by Slot that Elliott was a shining example of how someone who was frustrated over not playing more often should conduct himself. He always parked his own personal disappointment and put the team first. Advertisement He was also massively influential off the bench in the dramatic Premier League victory at Brentford in January when Darwin Nunez struck twice in stoppage time and scored the winner against Lille in the league phase of the Champions League at Anfield three days later. Elliott’s hopes of playing a bigger part last season were dented by the broken foot he suffered in September that kept him out for two and a half months. The timing couldn’t have been much worse as he was tried to impress his new manager. By the time he was fit, Liverpool were on a roll, Slot barely rotated and Elliott was playing catch-up. There was no disgrace in his failure to force a spot ahead of Dominik Szoboszlai or Curtis Jones in the pecking order of attacking midfielders. Salah’s durability and prolific output meant that the wide-right role he could have filled was also rarely available. With £116m signing Florian Wirtz on board this season, game time was going to be even more limited. His only appearance in the opening three league matches was a brief outing away to Newcastle United. He was involved in the build-up to Rio Ngumoha’s last-gasp goal with a pass into the feet of Ryan Gravenberch before making an intelligent run down the outside. Amid the celebrations, Elliott playfully shoved Ngumoha towards the away supporters, encouraging the then-16-year-old to savour becoming the youngest goal scorer in the club’s history. He knows what it is like to be a teenage sensation. In May 2019, Elliott became the youngest player to play in the Premier League when he featured for Fulham against Wolverhampton Wanderers, aged 16 and 30 days. Four months later, he became the youngest player to start a game for Liverpool when Klopp gave him his debut in a Carabao Cup tie at MK Dons. Elliott can be proud of the heights he has scaled in the six years since. Humble and driven, he always carried himself well, in good times and bad. His personality will be missed around the Kirkby training base, where he was such a popular figure. Advertisement “You’ll be remembered for your loyalty and dedication every time you were called upon, ” Salah posted on social media. “You leave as a champion, and I’ve got no doubt you’ll do big things at your new club. They are lucky to have you. ” With his future uncertain until so late in the window, Elliott didn’t get to say a proper goodbye. However, he is guaranteed a positive reception when his new team come to Anfield in November. The buy-back clause means this might not be the end of his Liverpool story. No one could begrudge him the chance to go and prove he can be a leading light and not just a bit-part performer at the highest level. (Top photo: Glyn Kirk/AFP via Getty Images) Spot the pattern. Connect the terms Find the hidden link between sports terms Play today's puzzle James Pearce joins the Athletic after 14 years working for the Liverpool Echo. The dad-of-two has spent the past decade covering the fortunes of Liverpool FC across the globe to give fans the inside track on the Reds from the dressing room to the boardroom. Follow James on Twitter @James Pearce LFC