Manager confirms midfielder’s Liverpool return after being praised by Klopp as ‘a joy to watch’
Liverpool loanee James McConnell is reportedly set to return to Merseyside, with just a few formalities remaining before his temporary move is officially ended. Less than five months after joining Ajax on a season-long loan, the midfielder is coming back to his parent club following a frustrating stint in the Netherlands.
The 21-year-old was brought to Ajax by former Reds assistant Johnny Heitinga but hasn’t featured since Heitinga was dismissed in early November and has also struggled with injuries. Reports from late December suggested Liverpool were likely to recall McConnell this month, and that now appears to be happening.
Heitinga’s successor, Fred Grim, confirmed that McConnell’s departure from Ajax is imminent, stating (via Liverpool World): “James McConnell has returned to Liverpool. There are just a few administrative formalities left to complete, then it will be fully official.” Unfortunately, the move to Amsterdam did not work out, leaving Liverpool to decide on his next steps carefully.
The midfielder was highly rated during the 2023/24 pre-season, with Jurgen Klopp describing him as “a joy to watch,” but over two years later, McConnell has made only 13 senior appearances for the Reds, and further playing time seems unlikely in the short term.
With Liverpool’s midfield competition fierce and McConnell’s recent injury issues, it would be a challenge for him to compete with players like Ryan Gravenberch and Curtis Jones for a starting role. At least, unlike Harvey Elliott—who has reached the maximum limit of two clubs this season and is frozen out at Aston Villa—McConnell remains eligible for another loan move, offering him a chance to gain valuable minutes.
While his long-term future at Liverpool remains uncertain, the hope is that he can quickly get back on the pitch, move past his difficult spell at Ajax, and potentially rediscover the promise Klopp saw in him during the final stages of his Anfield tenure.