Midfielder 53
James McConnell joined Liverpool’s youth Academy in 2019 after transferring from Sunderland’s U15 side to Merseyside, where he established himself as one of the elite young midfielders.
McConnell was born on 13 September, 2004 in Morpeth, England, to British parents; his father is Martin McConnell, who works in the fire service, and he played a major role in the development of his son’s football career.
He started his football journey at Sunderland AFC youth academy, but was signed by Liverpool, where he is to continue his development at the Reds academy.
At just the age of 16, he became a regular starter for the club’s U18 side. A few days after he clocked 17, he was offered his first professional contract with Liverpool; barely a year later, he was offered a long-term contract with the club as he was seen as a future asset for the club.
In the 2023 pre-season campaign, he was selected by Jürgen Klopp to be part of the 27-man squad for the tour in Singapore. He put in a show during the tournament that earned him the praise of the coaching staff and became the spotlight for journalists’ attention.
At the start of the 2023/2024 season, McConnell was included in Liverpool’s Carabao Cup final game against Chelsea; he was not brought on, but had an opportunity to win his first senior domestic title with the Reds.
He had his first team appearance on 26 October 2023 against Toulouse in the UEFA Europa League competition, which ended in a 5:1 victory for the Reds, who were at home.
On 12 November 2023, he made his Premier League debut against Brentford, in a 3:0 home victory. He was brought in as a late substitute, replacing Dominik Szoboszlai.
James McConnell finished the 2023/2024 season with nine (9) senior appearances and was offered a long-term contract with the club, as he was seen as a midfield asset and among the list of players seen as part of the club’s future.
Under the management of Arne Slot, Liverpool’s head coach in the 2024/2025 season, he made just four appearances for the Reds, which included being featured in the starting 11 in the UEFA Champions League match against PSV Eindhoven that ended in a 3:2 defeat.
He was offered a new 5 years contract on 29 August, 2025, which will see him at the club until the summer of 2030. Shortly after, he was sent on a loan spell to Ajax for the rest of the 2025/2026 season, but after just seven (7) appearances, he returned to Liverpool.
He was named in the Liverpool squad for the 2026 pre-season tour in the United States; his performance at the tournament could be a strong determinant of whether he can be part of Andoni Iraola’s squad ahead of the 2026/2027 season.
PROFILE
Full Name: James McConnell
Date of Birth: September 13, 2004
Place of Birth: Morpeth, Northumberland, England
Nationality: English
Height: 1. 75 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position: Central Midfielder
Preferred Foot: Right
Current Club: Liverpool FC
CLUB TROPHIES
| Honour | Year |
|---|---|
| Carabao | 2024 |
