James McConnell (footballer, born 2004)

James William McConnell (born 13 September 2004) is an English professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Premier League club Liverpool.

Career
McConnell joined Liverpool from Sunderland at U15 level. By the 2021–22 season, he had starting playing regularly for the Liverpool U18 side, having first started playing for them at 16 year-of-age. He signed a professional contract with the club shortly after his seventeenth birthday. This was extended in October 2022, as he agreed a long-term professional contract with Liverpool.

He was included in Liverpool’s 27-man squad to tour Singapore in July 2023. He was singled out for praise from Jürgen Klopp for his efforts in Singapore, as well as being praised by former players and journalists. He was included in a Liverpool first team match day squad for the first time on 12 August 2023, named as a substitute in the Premier League against Chelsea. He made his senior debut for Liverpool in a 5–1 UEFA Europa League victory over Toulouse at Anfield on 26 October 2023. He made his Premier League debut on 12 November 2023, appearing as a late substitute for Dominik Szoboszlai, in a 3–0 home win over Brentford.

McConnell made his first start for Liverpool in the FA Cup fourth round match against Norwich City at Anfield on 28 January 2024, contributing an assist for Curtis Jones' first goal in an eventual 5–2 victory.

He made an appearance from the bench as Liverpool won the 2024 EFL Cup final 1–0 against Chelsea at Wembley Stadium on 25 February 2024.

Style of play
Initially an attacking midfielder player, McConnell adapted his game to play as a holding midfield player under the tutelage of Jurgen Klopp and Pep Lijnders following the departures of Jordan Henderson and Fabinho from Liverpool in the summer of 2023.

Honours
Liverpool
 * EFL Cup: 2023–24