John Heitinga will remain at Liverpool despite interest from West Brom, according to his agent.
The former Ajax, Everton, and Netherlands defender joined Liverpool’s coaching staff in the summer as part of Arne Slot’s team, and his work has caught the attention of West Brom. The Championship club, which is hoping for promotion, has an opening after Carlos Corberan left for Valencia.
However, Heitinga’s agent confirmed to De Telegraaf that he will not be moving, stating: “John will definitely stay at Liverpool this season.”
Heitinga, who had a brief spell at West Ham as an assistant before leaving with manager David Moyes, joined Liverpool after a surprising summer move. Slot, who had brought his full coaching staff from Feyenoord, had one member unable to sign due to visa issues, so Heitinga was added as a free agent.
The 41-year-old began his coaching career at Ajax in 2017 after retiring as a player. He managed their under-19s and second team, Jong Ajax, before taking over as head coach in 2023. He led the team to a third-place finish and a spot in the Europa League, with a record of 14 wins, four draws, and four losses in 22 matches.
As part of Liverpool’s coaching team, Heitinga has contributed to their excellent form this season. The Reds have won 23 of 27 games across all competitions, suffering just one defeat. They currently sit at the top of the Premier League and Champions League group stages, while also advancing to the semi-finals of the Carabao Cup.
This strong start has drawn attention to Heitinga, although hiring a Liverpool assistant hasn’t always been successful. Pepijn Lijnders, Klopp’s long-time assistant, left in the summer and was appointed head coach of Red Bull Salzburg. He was dismissed in December after just six months in charge, with a record of 13 wins and nine defeats in 29 matches.
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