Liverpool midfielder James McConnell has agreed a new five-year deal at Anfield and will join Ajax on loan for the 2025/26 season, according to David Ornstein.
The Reds have had a busy summer transfer window under Arne Slot after lifting the Premier League title in 2024/25, with Giorgi Mamardashvili, Jeremie Frimpong, Milos Kerkez, Florian Wirtz, Hugo Ekitike and Giovanni Leoni all signing so far.
Now departures are seen as the priority in the final week of the transfer window and Anfield chiefs have moved to secure the long-term future of prospect McConnell before sending him out on loan for regular first-team football.
Liverpool Starlet McConnell to Join Ajax on Loan
James McConnell of Liverpool looks on
James McConnell of Liverpool looks on
McConnell made his debut for Liverpool during the 2023/24 season under Jurgen Klopp and was tipped to earn an opportunity with the first-team during the summer, but he missed the pre-season tour due to illness.
Several Championship clubs including West Brom, Oxford United and Hull City all showed an interest in the 20-year-old holding midfielder, however, Champions League outfit Ajax have made a compelling pitch and the player will now move to Amsterdam for the season.
Liverpool have agreed a five-year contract extension with the youngster, tying his future to Anfield until 2030, but are entrusting his immediate development to former first-team coach John Heitinga, who left the club to take over at Ajax during the summer.
Liverpool chiefs view McConnell as a future first-team player and believe he showed his level of quality during his Champions League debut against PSV Eindhoven in January. He was set to leave on loan during the winter window, only to impress Slot enough that the Dutchman opted to keep him instead.
With Heitinga having worked directly with Slot and McConnell during last season, it's believed that Ajax is the perfect place for him to continue his development and also improve to come back to Anfield in 12 months ready to compete for a spot in Slot's squad.
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