€40 million deal finalized
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After extensive speculation, Harvey Elliott has secured a new destination. On deadline day, Liverpool confirmed the loan of Elliott to Aston Villa, which includes an obligation to buy set at £35 million (€40 million). The agreement also contains a sell-on clause and a buy-back option for Liverpool. Should the purchase obligation be activated, Elliott would rank among the top five most expensive signings in Aston Villa’s history.
The 22-year-old playmaker had attracted considerable interest throughout the summer, with clubs such as RB Leipzig, West Ham, and Fulham vying for him. According to Transfermarkt, Leipzig expressed serious interest and even had discussions between Elliott and the club’s director of sport, Marcel Schäfer. However, they opted for other players, signing Andrija Maksimovic (from Crvena Zvezda) and Johan Bakayoko (from PSV Eindhoven), culminating in a last-minute signing of Conrad Harder.
With Liverpool demanding a significant transfer fee for the talented playmaker, Elliott was forced to explore other options. This sizable price tag was arguably warranted, as he delivered an impressive performance at the U21 European Championships earlier this year, scoring five goals in six matches and propelling England to victory.
Why Did Liverpool Decide to Sell Elliott to Aston Villa?
Considering all these factors, why did Liverpool choose to sell Elliott? The Reds have been active in the transfer market this window, investing nearly €500 million on new talent, including Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitiké. On deadline day, they also secured Alexander Isak for a record British transfer fee of €145 million. Such new signings have limited Elliott’s opportunities within the first team. Despite his departure, Liverpool holds a strong belief in Elliott’s potential, as indicated by the inclusion of a buy-back clause in the agreement.
