Harvey Elliott joined Valencia CF on a season-long loan from Liverpool F.C. at the beginning of September after returning from an unsuccessful loan spell at Aston Villa.
The 23-year-old had a difficult 2025/26 campaign at Villa, making only nine appearances and playing fewer than 300 minutes. His opportunities were limited partly because Aston Villa did not want to trigger the purchase conditions attached to his loan.
Elliott returned to Liverpool in the summer, but despite getting some pre-season involvement under new manager Andoni Iraola, he eventually left for Valencia in search of regular first-team football. Liverpool confirmed that he had also extended his contract with the club until 2028 before completing the loan move.
However, his start in Spain has been slow. Elliott has made three La Liga appearances, all from the bench, and has accumulated just 85 minutes without a goal or assist. La Liga’s official statistics list him as having made three appearances and zero starts.
The main issue raised by Spanish journalist Dario Puig of Marca is Elliott’s physical condition. Puig reported that the midfielder arrived at Valencia without having completed a sufficient pre-season and described him as being below his optimal playing condition. The report argues that this has contributed to his limited involvement and inability to reproduce the performances that previously impressed Liverpool.
Elliott’s appearances so far have come against Barcelona, Sevilla and Real Sociedad. He was not used against Alavés, with reports suggesting the intensity of the match was a factor.
The current international break therefore represents an important period for Elliott. Spanish reports say Valencia intend to use the roughly three-week break as an opportunity for him to undergo an intensive fitness programme and build himself back toward full match sharpness.
There is also a financial element. Reports say Valencia are covering most of Elliott’s wages, making him one of the club’s higher-paid players. That increases the expectation that he will eventually become an important contributor once he reaches full fitness.
For Liverpool, Elliott’s Valencia spell remains significant because he is still contracted to the club through 2028. A successful season in Spain could give him another opportunity to rebuild his reputation and demonstrate that he can still become an important player at Anfield.
Important: the “overweight” description comes from Spanish media reporting and should not be treated as a confirmed medical diagnosis or official statement from Valencia. The more firmly established facts are his limited pre-season, three substitute appearances and 85 minutes of La Liga football so far.
