One Minute Could Break a Deal: Could Liverpool's Villa Loan Turn Sour?
25 January 2026
Injury-driven reality
Aston Villa's head coach Unai Emery has included England's Harvey Elliott in the squad to face Newcastle United this Sunday, as part of the Premier League's 23rd round.
This appearance is unusual for Elliott's season so far, which began with high hopes before a major blow left him sidelined by a loan clause tied to his development at Liverpool.
Under the loan agreement, Villa would have to buy the player permanently for £35 million if he features in at least 10 matches, according to The Athletic.
One minute, a catastrophic deal
Based on this clause that has not yet been triggered, the deal has been described as a catastrophe for both sides, but Emery's decision today could steer its course toward an unexpected ending.
From the outset, agreeing to this condition was a major risk; Villa's management soon decided to correct it by keeping the player out of the matchday plans, and later stating they did not want to pay the amount given the club's finances.
Theoretically, this turn might have opened a door to mutual termination, but the snag is that Liverpool cannot loan Elliott again this season, because he already played a minute for Liverpool in the Community Shield, meaning rules prevent a third club appearance in a single campaign.
If Elliott returns to Liverpool now, the club would have to reintegrate him into the squad—a situation not warmly welcomed by Emery's staff, who prefer to keep him at Villa while hoping for 10 appearances to trigger the mandatory clause.
Currently, Elliott has only five appearances for the Villans, with his last coming on October 2, and Emery has effectively frozen him to avoid the hefty trigger.
Recent injuries to Boubacar Kamara and John McGinn have led to Elliott being recalled for Newcastle, per Liverpool Echo.
Thus the equation could shift: if Elliott features against Newcastle today, even briefly, it would move everyone closer to activating the deal, according to the same source.
That development could give the player a chance to prove his worth on the pitch and might push Villa to reconsider a permanent signing.
Punchline 1: If one minute can derail a deal, imagine what a full match would do—talk about a time-bound transfer saga.
Punchline 2: They say timing is everything in football; apparently, it's also governed by a clause worth 35 million, which is oddly less funny when you actually owe it.
