2 days ago
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Harvey Elliott has sent an emotional message to Liverpool and its fans following his deadline-day move to Aston Villa.
The boyhood Red watched from the stands as Liverpool lost the 2018 Champions League final in Kyiv and a year later was part of the squad that lifted the trophy in Madrid. Elliott, whose family are Liverpool fan, claimed in January that he had no plans to leave the club he grew up supporting, but by May was in tears at Anfield on the final day of the 2024/25 season as an exit drew nearer.
Elliott admitted on a number of occasions over the summer that he may need to be selfish with the next steps of his career due to the lack of minutes at Liverpool, but admitted he had no desire to leave the club.
A frustrating window saw Liverpool fend off approaches from several interested parties, before allowing the 22-year-old to join Villa on an initial loan with an obligation to buy for £35 million ($47M).
After the deal was confirmed, Elliott released an emotional statement on Instagram, alongside a video showing his Anfield highlights.
“When I joined Liverpool in 2019 it was a dream come true for me and my family,” wrote Elliott.
“As a young child I travelled the world supporting the team as a fan and words will never be able to explain the feeling I had when I pulled on that famous red shirt for the first time as a player.
“Over the course of the last six years I’ve experienced so much and grown from a young 16-year-old boy into a man during my time at the club.
“Growing up I could never have imagined that I’d go on to play 150 games for my boyhood team, winning 7 major trophies and culminating in being part of the squad to have won the Premier League last season with such a special group.
“Thank you to everybody at the club for welcoming me from the very first day I arrived and for looking after me ever since.
“Thank you to the board and Jurgen Klopp for helping me live my dream of becoming a Liverpool player.
“To Arne Slot, all of the coaches and staff who have helped me along the way and of course my teammates. It’s been a privilege to play with you all and I feel lucky to have made so many lifelong friends along the way.
“To the incredible Liverpool fans. Thank you for making me one of your own and for always supporting me through both good and tough times. I’ll always cherish the bond we have together. I will always have Liverpool in my heart.
“It’s now time for a new challenge. I am incredibly ambitious and feel that at this stage of my career it’s important to be in an environment where I’m able to have the opportunity to play and progress as much as possible. Thank you all for everything. See you soon! YNWA.”
English (US) ·