The Liverpool midfielder found the back of the net in all three knockout matches, marking a turning point in his career. With such standout performances, it’s clear that his days as a Premier League backup are behind him. Wherever he ends up playing next season, Harvey Elliott should now be considered a regular starter.
Looking ahead, the summer of 2025 could be remembered by Harvey Elliott as a defining chapter in his football journey.
Heading into the Under-21 European Championship in Slovakia, the Liverpool talent carried a quiet frustration. Just days before the tournament began, Elliott openly admitted that he might be forced to leave his beloved club this summer, as he faced the first real setback in his early career.
Despite being heavily involved in Jurgen Klopp’s farewell campaign—only Darwin Nunez featured more—Elliott was largely sidelined under new manager Arne Slot. He was handed just two Premier League starts throughout the season, and none of those came before Liverpool had already secured the title.
Hence, his comments about the need to consider a move elsewhere for the sake of his development weren’t a surprise. “I don’t really want to be wasting years [of] my career because it’s a short career,” he bluntly explained.
What a turnaround it’s been for Harvey Elliott after a remarkable summer that saw the 22-year-old add another international trophy to his growing collection. Not many England players can claim such a feat at his age.
Elliott was a standout figure for Lee Carsley’s Under-21 side, scoring five times in six matches and playing a key role in England’s triumph. His brilliance earned him the Player of the Tournament award, especially shining in the knockout rounds. He found the net in the quarter-final against Spain, struck twice to sink the Netherlands in the semi-final, and opened the scoring in the final.
His consistent excellence over the three weeks in Slovakia served as a strong reminder of his outstanding ability and the bright trajectory of his career. After leading his team to victory and delivering in crucial moments, Elliott has made a compelling case to be a regular starter at club level.
However, the fact that he was even eligible for the Under-21 Euros suggests things haven’t unfolded as expected in recent months.
Take his new Liverpool teammate Florian Wirtz, for example. Despite being a month younger than Elliott, the German was involved with his national senior team, playing full matches in the Nations League finals rather than participating in the youth tournament.
Likewise, Morgan Rogers was absent for England’s squad, while Spain didn’t include teenage sensation Lamine Yamal.
Elliott, though, has made it clear that he’s outgrown the fringes. His performances this summer have proven he’s more than capable of delivering on a major stage.
Given the competition in Liverpool’s midfield—with Wirtz, Dominik Szoboszlai, and Curtis Jones all in the mix—a departure from Anfield could now make the most sense for all parties. Sporting director Richard Hughes will have certainly taken note of Elliott’s elevated performances, which have increased his market value with every game.
Considering Liverpool paid just £4 million to bring him in back in 2019, they’re poised to benefit significantly if he does move on.
Since joining the club, Elliott has started fewer than half of Liverpool’s league matches in each season. That trend needs to end in the 2025/26 campaign.
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