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When Harvey Elliott transferred from Fulham to Liverpool last summer, the two clubs could not reach an agreement on a compensation package for the highly touted youngster, so the fee structure had to be determined by a Professional Football Compensation Committee tribunal.
More than a year and a half after the transfer was completed, the tribunal has today outlined the transfer fee and add-ons that Liverpool will pay to the West London club. The Reds will pay £1.5 million immediately, £1.2m for the initial transfer fee plus £300,000 because Elliott has signed his first professional contract with Liverpool.
Liverpool will have to pay another £200,000 when the youngster signs his second contract and could end up paying a total fee of £4.3 million should Elliott make 100 first-team appearances and earn a cap for the English National Team. Also included in the compensation package is a 20% sell-on fee that will be awarded to Fulham should Elliott be sold by Liverpool
Liverpool are reported to have initially offered £850,000 for the then 16-year-old Elliott. Fulham, who are said to have been insulted by this lowball offer, were seeking £10m plus another £10m in add-ons. All things considered, both clubs will likely feel happy with the tribunal’s ruling, even if neither got everything they wanted.
The fee may sound high for a player who had made exactly two senior appearances at the time of the transfer, but it’s hard to argue the young man’s potential. He owns numerous Fulham, Liverpool, and Premier League records for being the youngest player to make an appearance or start, including becoming the youngest player to ever play in the Premier League in 2019.
Elliott has been extremely impressive on loan with Championship side Blackburn Rovers this season. In just 24 appearances the teenage phenom has scored four goals and provided nine assists, earning praise and creating excitement amongst the Liverpool faithful every step of the way.
When this is taken into consideration, even the full £4.3m would likely be a very reasonable price for the electrifying winger. Even if he ultimately fails to carve out a place in the first-team squad, it’s easy to imagine Liverpool making a tidy profit on a potential future sale, sell-on fee or not.