James McConnell

James McConnell is a midfielder who has featured for Liverpool FC at senior level after emerging through the ranks at the club's Academy.Signed from Sunderland as an U15 player, he made his U18s debut for the Reds as an U16 player during the 2020-21 season.He signed his first professional deal with the club in September 2021 and then agreed a long-term extension 13 months later.McConnell netted six goals for the U18s in 2022-23, featured for the U19s in the UEFA Youth League and then moved up to the U21s squad.His development continued with involvement under Jürgen Klopp in the subsequent pre-season, and he achieved his senior debut as a substitute against Toulouse at Anfield in October 2023.McConnell sealed a fresh long-term contract with Liverpool three months after his bow and finished 2023-24 with nine senior appearances to his name, including a starring role off the bench in the Carabao Cup final win over Chelsea at Wembley.He made a further four appearances under head coach Arne Slot throughout the 2024-25 campaign, before penning another new contract at Anfield in August 2025.Alongside his new deal, he made the switch to AFC Ajax on loan and spent the first half of 2025-26 in the Netherlands.