Surprise at deal STRUCK with Liverpool | OneFootball

Opinion is split on a deal struck with Liverpool. It was a surprise to many - but was it the right move?

Liverpool struck an awful lot of deals in 2025 as they overhauled their squad. It was unprecedented, really, given the Reds had just won the Premier League.

But they moved on plenty of brilliant talents, both on loan and permanently. Some were stars, like Darwin Nunez and Luis Diaz.

Other were in that level below. Players like Jarell Quansah, Harvey Elliott and Caoimhin Kelleher. Those with fantastic talent but not quite getting the minutes they need at Liverpool.

Then on top of that was James McConnell. The midfielder is highly-rated by Arne Slot and seen as a future star for Liverpool.

But he was sent out on loan to Ajax where he could work with Johnny Heitinga. The latter took over as head coach there after a successful spell as an assistant to Slot.

The McConnell deal has surprised some, however.

Surprise at Ajax’s McConnell deal

Algemeen Dagblad reports that Ajax’s scouts were surprised that the club moved for McConnell this summer. It was a deal pushed for by Heitinga, which isn’t exactly a shock.

But the scouts there feel it was an unnecessary signing. McConnell blocks the pathway for Jorthy Mokio, one of the big talents coming through at Ajax right now.

And at the end of the day, developing McConnell over Mokio does a lot more for Liverpool than it does Ajax. Though, they’re not even developing him.