Liverpool issues statement as player joins Arne Slot's squad on deadline day

Liverpool's squad depth has become a major issue this month and, while any deadline-day arrivals look unlikely, Arne Slot's options have been boosted by the return of one loanee

James McConnell's loan move at Ajax has been cut short, with the player returning to Liverpool

Liverpool and Ajax have confirmed that James McConnell’s loan move has been cut short at the Amsterdam club.

McConnell joined Ajax at the end of August on a season-long loan move, but after making just seven appearances, the player has returned to Liverpool. Confusingly, the announcement was made only on Monday, despite the midfielder spending most of the month back on Merseyside.

Liverpool.com reported last week that McConnell’s loan had ended early, with the 21-year-old undergoing minor surgery on an injury that prevented him from playing for Ajax after November. McConnell had originally been persuaded to join the club by John Heitinga, Arne Slot’s former assistant at Liverpool, but he was sacked in the same month as the loanee picked up an injury.

McConnell will not depart Liverpool on transfer deadline day. It is understood he will play a role with the senior team in the final months of the campaign and provide greater depth for Slot.

The academy graduate, who has played 13 senior games for the Reds, is expected back from injury later this month.

Confirming his return to Liverpool on Monday, Ajax said in a statement: “Ajax, James McConnell and Liverpool FC have reached agreement on the formal termination of the player's loan agreement.

“The administrative handling of this has been completed; the player himself had already not been part of Ajax’s selection since early January.”

McConnell played seven games at Ajax(Image: Photo by James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)

Liverpool added that McConnell is “now back at the AXA Training Centre with the Reds after the temporary deal with Ajax was ended”.

McConnell signed a five-year contract last summer, and there was widespread interest in the Championship over a potential loan move.

He is expected to play a peripheral role in the first team between now and the end of the season, and is highly regarded by Slot.

McConnell was a regular in senior training last season.

The Dutchman even prevented McConnell from leaving Liverpool last January following an impressive appearance against PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League.

He played in the shock FA Cup elimination at the hands of Plymouth Argyle the following month, his most recent appearance for the club.

That early cup exit, coupled with Slot’s plethora of midfield options and untimely injury last spring, meant McConnell did not feature in the final months of the campaign and returned to the Under-21 set-up.

Primarily a holding midfielder, the youngster is also capable of operating at right-back, a position which has proved troublesome for Slot in recent weeks.