The midfielder, who has previously impressed Arne Slot, returned to Liverpool earlier this month from Ajax and the Reds have made a decision on his short-term future
16:12, 26 Jan 2026
James McConnell
James McConnell is set to remain at Liverpool for the remainder of the season(Image: )
James McConnell is expected to remain with Liverpool for the rest of the season despite widespread interest in a January loan move for the midfielder.
McConnell spent the first half of this season on loan at Ajax, but saw the short-term deal end prematurely earlier this month when he returned to undergo rehabilitation on an injury sustained in the Netherlands. The 21-year-old underwent minor surgery earlier this month and a decision has been taken for McConnnell to stay put at Liverpool, given the lack of first-team options.
Slot admitted his players were tired in Saturday’s defeat against Bournemouth, and the addition of McConnell will help boost those numbers.
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He is expected back in first-team training in February and should help with squad rotation in the final months of the campaign.
The former Sunderland youth-team star has previously impressed Slot. His performance in a Champions League defeat at PSV Eindhoven in January 2025 convinced the Liverpool head coach to retain his services for the remainder of the campaign.
However, the shock FA Cup elimination at the hands of Plymouth Argyle in February, the plethora of midfield options available to Slot, and a late-season injury meant McConnell did not play a Premier League match last term and ended the season representing the Under-21s.
James McConnell of AFC Ajax during the UEFA Champions League match against Chelsea in October
McConnell made seven appearances on loan at Ajax(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)
However, he is highly regarded at Liverpool, with those talents recognized by Ajax last summer when the 36-time Dutch champions secured a loan move in late August.
McConnell made seven appearances, which included a starting berth in a Champions League trip to Chelsea.
But an unfortunate injury meant his final game for the club came in early November and he returned to Liverpool at the beginning of January. Somewhat surprisingly, Liverpool has not yet communicated his return from Ajax, and he is listed in the “on loan” section on the club website.
James McConnell in possession
McConnell impressed during a Champions League encounter against PSV last season(Image: AFP or Licensors)
McConnell attracted loan interest again at the start of the month from several EFL and overseas clubs, but Liverpool has opted against another short-term deal.
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Primarily a holding midfielder, the youngster is also capable of playing at right-back, a position which has proved troublesome for the Reds this season.
McConnell has made 13 appearances for Liverpool, the last of which came in that FA Cup defeat by Plymouth.
He made four appearances under Slot last term and signed a new five-year contract before joining Ajax, a move pushed by former Liverpool assistant John Heitinga, who was dismissed as head coach by the Amsterdam club in November.