A method for manufacturing a thermoplastic composite product, comprising: providing a first thermoplastic composite component (A) made from a consolidated stack of thermoplastic composite plies , said first component having a first ply drop off; providing a second thermoplastic composite component (B) made from a consolidated stack of thermoplastic composite plies, said second component having a second ply drop off having a shape that is complementary to a shape of the first ply drop off; positioning the first and second components (A,B) such that the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off are aligned; and fixedly connecting the first and second components (A,B) by heating of the first and second ply drop offs to a temperature that is higher than a melting temperature of the plies used for making the first and second components (A,B); characterized in that said providing a first thermoplastic composite component (A) 2. and said providing a second thermoplastic composite component (B) comprise: stacking thermoplastic composite plies in a stacking direction for the purpose of forming the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off, respectively, wherein the plies in each ply stack are arranged such that plies at a different position along the stacking direction are laterally offset relative to each other; and consolidating the ply stack of the first component (A) and consolidating the ply stack of the second component (B). providing a first thermoplastic composite component (A) made from a consolidated stack of thermoplastic composite plies , said first component having a first ply drop off; providing a second thermoplastic composite component (B) made from a consolidated stack of thermoplastic composite plies, said second component having a second ply drop off having a shape that is complementary to a shape of the first ply drop off; positioning the first and second components (A,B) such that the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off are aligned; and fixedly connecting the first and second components (A,B) by heating of the first and second ply drop offs to a temperature that is higher than a melting temperature of the plies used for making the first and second components (A,B); characterized in that said providing a first thermoplastic composite component (A) 2. and said providing a second thermoplastic composite component (B) comprise: stacking thermoplastic composite plies in a stacking direction for the purpose of forming the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off, respectively, wherein the plies in each ply stack are arranged such that plies at a different position along the stacking direction are laterally offset relative to each other; and consolidating the ply stack of the first component (A) and consolidating the ply stack of the second component (B). stacking thermoplastic composite plies in a stacking direction for the purpose of forming the first ply drop off and the second ply drop off, respectively, wherein the plies in each ply stack are arranged such that plies at a different position along the stacking direction are laterally offset relative to each other; and consolidating the ply stack of the first component (A) and consolidating the ply stack of the second component (B). <EOS>