Has Today’s Game Left England Sensation Harvey Elliott Behind?

Whether he meant to or not, England and Liverpool midfielder Harvey Elliott has proved a point over the past few weeks.

The 22-year-old recently collected the award for best player at UEFA’s European Under-21 Championship in Slovakia, which he and his international teammates went on to win as the Young Lions defended the trophy. Elliott ended the competition with five goals, putting him second on the scoring list behind Germany’s tall striker Nick Woltemade (six), whose side lost the final.

Elliott brought dynamism to England’s play, something he offers whenever pulling on a jersey for club and country. Moreover, the live wire demonstrated leadership qualities throughout the 17-day tournament. In senior soccer, he’s not a protagonist, however—that is despite earning nearly 150 appearances over six years for Liverpool.

Very much on the fringes during Reds trainer Arne Slot’s victorious first season in 2024/25, the player is yet to represent England’s first team in any match (although his performances will have impressed head coach Thomas Tuchel). Meanwhile, Elliott’s future with Liverpool, his boyhood club, is undecided. He may be heading elsewhere this summer transfer window.

Elliott: A Brilliant By-Product Of Elite Soccer Culture

A handful of Premier League clubs are said to have an interest in Harvey Elliott. German talent developer RB Leipzig is also reportedly in the mix as a possible new home. Were he to leave, Liverpool might be happy with an offer around the €50 million ($59 million) mark for a squad rotation option who arrived on the cheap. In truth, for an athlete of his age and proven skill, you could easily add another €20 million ($24 million) on top of that sort of sum.

Which is where the intrigue lies. In today’s game, being as electric as Elliott isn’t always enough with the elite sides. He plays in a hybrid position, somewhere between an all-action number eight and a winger, and Liverpool—with fierce competition for places and seeking marginal gains—doesn’t necessarily need Elliott, making him a sellable asset, one that could make a healthy profit as well.

From there emerges a market for stars who, despite not holding down a place at a top-tier team, are still extremely attractive and worth pursuing in the transfer market. And in Elliott’s case, it seems he would consider a change if he can’t go from impact substitute to regular starter, albeit reluctantly, given his love for Liverpool. “I don’t want to be wasting years of my career because it’s a short career,” he said earlier this month.

Elliott may have found himself a little stranded by the harsh reality of a mega club culture and its limited opportunities. But wherever he might go, and for whatever price, he has the chance to kick on after living at least some of his dream on Merseyside. Ultimately, while Liverpool will consider the business element of moving the ex-Fulham graduate on, Elliott must decide whether it’s better to graft away at the Premier League champion or establish himself more in new colors before the World Cup next summer.