Arne Slot confirms midfield maestro is coming back to Liverpool | OneFootball

Last summer was one of the busiest in Anfield’s history.

As well as seven signings and the arrival of Giorgi Mamardashvili, who agreed to join a year earlier, 11 first-team players left Anfield either permanently or on loan.

The window was the first real step in a transition away from Jurgen Klopp’s Liverpool towards a new squad moulded by Michael Edwards, Richard Hughes and Arne Slot, but things haven’t really gone to plan.

The Reds have disappointed massively this season, not just with their results but with their performances too, and a lot of work is needed to get the team ready to compete for titles again.

Liverpool’s head coach is well aware that change is needed, and he has just announced that a midfield maestro is on his way back to Anfield.

Slot confirms midfield boost ahead of 2026/27 season

When Harvey Elliott swapped Anfield for Villa Park at the start of the season many supporters were left dismayed.

The boyhood Liverpool supporter had quickly become a fan favourite in Merseyside, but his desire for guaranteed first-team minutes in the build-up to the World Cup was understandable.

Elliott joined on an initial loan deal with an option to buy that seemed almost a formality at the time the deal was announced, but things couldn’t have gone worse for the 23-year-old.

The Englishman has played just 283 minutes for Villa, and he will now be returning to Liverpool.

Slot confirmed on Thursday that Elliott is of course still under contract at Liverpool, and that the Englishman will re-join the squad ahead of the 2026/27 season.

“[Elliott] went over there to get more playing time, but unfortunately that didn’t happen,” Slot said. “And for such a talented player that did so well in the U21 Euros [last summer], you want a player like that to get more and more playing time.”

Elliott will hope that Slot’s words are an indicator that he will have the opportunity to prove himself in pre-season, and everyone will be hoping that the 23-year-old can get his career back on track after a very difficult season.