And six years to the day since Elliott made his Liverpool debut, the 22-year-old lined up for his new club as Unai Emery’s side started their latest European adventure.
Hargreaves spoke about how Villa’s “masterstroke” signings, including Elliott and Jadon Sancho, can help elevate the team after a tricky start to the season.
“(Last season’s loanees) Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio were brilliant for this Aston Villa team,” said TNT Sports expert Hargreaves.
“I think Harvey Elliott can eventually go on to be a player as good as Martin Odegaard.
“I think technically he’s fantastic, he hasn’t had the opportunities at Liverpool obviously, because they had so many players. But I think centrally, he’s a fabulous player.”
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Harvey Elliott and Martin Odegarard Compete in the FA Cup.
Image credit: Getty Images
Since signing for Arsenal in 2021, which included a brief spell on loan, former Real Madrid star Odegaard has played for the Gunners 202 times, scored 41 goals and provided 38 assists.
He also became captain during that time, replacing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang as the club’s skipper a year after his arrival.
On the international stage, he represents Norway, who he also captains, and has racked up 67 appearances for his country.
Elliott, four years younger than Odegaard, is yet to feature for the Three Lions at senior level, but has played an integral part in the U21 squad, with whom he won the European Championships in 2023 and 2025.
Ahead of Thursday’s Europa League opener, Elliott has played three times for Villa since his arrival and netted in the club’s third-round League Cup win against Brentford.
He featured 149 times for Liverpool, mostly coming off the bench, and scored 15 goals in that time.
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Harvey Elliott
Image credit: Getty Images
As well as the season-long loan capture of Elliott, which reportedly included a £35 million obligation to buy at the end of the season, Villa also signed Sancho on loan from Manchester United.
“Obviously, Jadon, he’s been up and down, but the talent is there,” Hargreaves added.
“Unai is the master at getting the best out of players who have maybe struggled elsewhere.
“That was a masterstroke late in the window, to get two really good technical players to help out.”
Fellow TNT Sports panellist Martin Keown was in agreement that the pair’s arrival could help Villa’s cause, but that timing would be crucial.
“It’s when he uses them, isn’t it? And finding the right moment to put them into the team,” Keown said.
“Asensio hit the ground running (last season), as did Rashford. It kind of rescued his season; look where he is now (at Barcelona).
“But these two now (Elliott and Sancho) need to be given the opportunities.”
Villa have had an underwhelming start to the Premier League season, where they were made to wait five games before scoring a goal. They are still winless and currently sit 18th in the table.
