AJAX have cancelled their season-long loan deal for Liverpool youngster James McConnell.
The Geordie midfielder, 21, was expected to bank valuable first-team experience in the Netherlands after completing the move in August.
But he only managed seven appearances in all competitions, with three coming in the Champions League.
And Ajax have now reached an agreement with Liverpool to send McConnell back to Merseyside.
The Dutch club’s statement made clear that the Reds prospect had not been part of the first-team picture for the past month.
It read: “Ajax, James McConnell, and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement to formally terminate the player’s loan.
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“The administrative process has been completed, and the player himself has not been part of the Ajax squad since early January.
“The 21-year-old defensive midfielder’s contract with Ajax originally ran until the end of the current season.
“McConnell was on loan from the reigning English champions. He made a total of seven official appearances for Ajax’s first team.”
Ajax have had a rough time this season, with only 10 wins in 21 league games leaving them fourth in the Eredivisie – a staggering 18 points behind leaders PSV.
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Meanwhile they were punching bags in Europe, finishing 32nd out of 36 teams in the league phase.
John Heitinga started the season in charge but was sacked after just over four months, and Fred Grim has been running the show on an interim basis since.
It remains to be seen how Liverpool plan to proceed with McConnell.
The youngster penned a five-year deal before leaving for Ajax but has only played 13 first-team games for the Reds, and will turn 22 later this year.