Liverpool sporting director Julian Ward has turned down the opportunity to join Ajax as technical director this summer.

Ward, who informed Liverpool’s owners in November that he would step down at the end of the season, has been heavily linked with a move to the Dutch giants.

Some reports recently suggested that it was a done deal but nothing was ever agreed. After being approached by Ajax, Ward did hold talks with their CEO Edwin van der Sar but, ultimately, decided that the timing wasn’t right.

Ajax needed someone to start work straight after the end of the season to oversee their summer recruitment drive and Ward wasn’t in a position to make that kind of commitment. The Eredivisie club are now understood to be pursuing other options.

Ward intends to take a break from football after 11 years of service at Liverpool and spend more time with his young family rather than rushing straight into another job.

The 41-year-old initially joined Liverpool as their European scouting manager for Spain and Portugal in 2012. Three years later he was appointed loan pathways and partnerships manager and his responsibilities continued to grow.

In December 2020 he was promoted to the role of assistant sporting director and then got the top job when Michael Edwards decided to walk away at the end of last season.

Ward negotiated Liverpool’s £44m signing of Cody Gakpo from PSV Eindhoven in January and is continuing to work on potential deals for the summer window before he steps down at the end of May.

Liverpool’s search for a new sporting director is ongoing as they continue to consider the merits of a number of external candidates.

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(Photo: Liverpool Football Club)