Ex-Liverpool star reveals private chat with Harvey Elliott over transfer decision

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Harvey Elliott joined Aston Villa on loan in September but he has barely played for the Midlands club, with Villa manager Unai Emery admitting he has not been convinced by the player

Harvey Elliott's move to Aston Villa has turned into a nightmare(Image: Getty Images)

A former Liverpool player has recalled how he warned Harvey Elliott off a move away from Anfield last year.

Elliott played 28 times for the Reds last season, but the vast majority of those appearances came as a substitute, and he did not start a game in the Premier League until after the title was wrapped up.

The 22-year-old's prospects at Liverpool under Arne Slot were clearly bleak – particularly after Florian Wirtz arrived from Bayer Leverkusen – so Elliott took the difficult decision to move on. Elliott joined Villa on a season-long loan, with the Midlands club agreeing to make the move permanent in 2026, on the condition that Elliott made 10 appearances under Unai Emery.

However, Elliott has appeared just five times for Villa, with the most recent of those appearances coming three months ago

On Friday, Emery made it clear that has not been convinced by Elliott since the player's move to Villa Park, and now ex-Red David Thompson has revealed that he tried to warn Elliott off moving away from Liverpool in 2025.

“I told Harvey Elliott not to leave Liverpool last year," Thompson told Footy Accumulators' No Tippy Tappy Football podcast, in partnership with BOYLE Sports

"He's 22 and has already won eight trophies. He could be one of Liverpool's all-time highest trophy winners if he stays and sticks it out. It might be a bit part role for him right now, but a bit part at Liverpool at 22 is a good learning experience.

Elliott has not appeared for Villa since the start of October(Image: Getty Images)

"He's playing with world-class talent, and he was shining every time he came onto the pitch. He was one of my favorite players. He always had an impact.

“I told him to just stay put and relax. I could see he was getting itchy feet. He probably deserved a little bit more credit. But just stay where you are, don't make any mistakes. That was the advice.

“I'm disappointed with the situation that he’s found himself in at Aston Villa. If you took that buyout clause out of the equation, he'd play more. They should rip up the contract or the agreement with Villa, and he should go back.

“Ultimately, he only left as he wanted to prove himself and try and get in the World Cup squad, but it's not worked out. He's caught between the devil and the deep blue sea as well because he can't play for three clubs in one season, so he needs to go back to Liverpool.”