Full-back did it all for his boyhood club and is off to a new reality where his game will face increased scrutiny Before basking in the acclaim and adulation of the Kop when No 20 was sealed two Sundays ago Trent Alexander-Arnold headed for the suits There was a warm embrace between the Liverpool star and Michael Edwards chief executive of football at Fenway Sports Group the man who initiated contract talks with Alexander-Arnold’s brother and agent prior to starting as the club’s new sporting director last summer and has faced a losing battle on that score ever since The Premier League champions are losing a unique That will sting FSG almost as much as the supporters who understandably cannot reconcile one of their own wanting to jump ship at any moment let alone after the high of the club’s record-equalling league title If the Anfield celebrations on the day the championship was secured against Tottenham could not change the defender’s mind – and he had informed Slot of his decision to leave in late March – nothing would Alexander-Arnold has been a first-team fixture at Liverpool for nine seasons Steven Gerrard marked him out as having “a terrific chance of making it as a top professional” in his 2015 autobiography He was Trent Arnold back then and had caught Gerrard’s eye playing as a holding midfielder in the under-16s team he was coaching “He’s quite leggy but he’s got a lovely frame and seems to have all the attributes you need,” wrote the Liverpool legend “He’s still not strong enough at the moment Trent Alexander-Arnold informed Arne Slot of his decision to leave Liverpool in late March Photograph: Liverpool FC/Getty ImagesThe full-back grew up near Liverpool’s former Melwood training ground in West Derby wanting to emulate Gerrard’s achievements in a red shirt He has surpassed them in terms of silverware but has been able to cut ties with the city and the club in the prime of his career It is not difficult to imagine Alexander-Arnold wanting to embrace a new challenge a new language and fitting in with the celebrity lifestyle at Real Madrid alongside his good friend Jude Bellingham Alexander-Arnold’s world-class vision and assists will grace the Bernabéu but for a generation of Madrid fans accustomed to the superior defensive application of Dani Carvajal There is more to his departure than the lucrative contract he will receive as a free agent Alexander-Arnold will know how his exit will be received by fellow Liverpool fans by someone the Kop lauds as the “scouser in our team” He was also caught out in that first leg by a long diagonal ball that led to Hoffenheim’s consolation goal The occasional lapse in concentration is something Slot has been working on with the player all season Free daily newsletterKick off your evenings with the Guardian's take on the world of football There were 12 Premier League assists in 2018-19, a new Premier League record for a defender of 13 assists as Liverpool swept to the title the following season and another dozen league assists in 2021-22 That season would produce a career-best 19 assists in total as Liverpool played an epic 63-game campaign and Alexander-Arnold continued to redefine what it meant to be a full-back the defender had won every competition he had competed in with Liverpool – the Champions League Another Premier League and League Cup have since been added to the collection That doesn’t happen to a defender who cannot defend The glittering CV also explains his desire to try something new The right-back is expected to join Real Madrid at the conclusion of his contract at Anfield I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our Privacy notice Trent Alexander-Arnold has decided to leave Liverpool at the end of the season when his contract at Anfield finishes The right-back, who is expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer came to the conclusion he wants a new challenge after two decades with his hometown club Alexander-Arnold had been in discussions with Liverpool about a new deal but whereas Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah signed contract extensions to remain at Anfield The 26-year-old feels he wants to test himself in a different environment after winning everything at Liverpool, he said in a video message published on Monday explaining his decision While Liverpool offered a contract that would have made Alexander-Arnold one if the best-paid full-backs in world football Sporting director Richard Hughes had made talks with Alexander-Arnold a priority and first made contact before taking charge. However, he was unable to strike a deal and the England international informed manager Arne Slot of his decision after a final meeting in the spring Alexander-Arnold, who made his debut and became vice-captain under Jurgen Klopp, enjoyed working for Slot and held the Dutchman in high esteem Real made an offer for Alexander-Arnold just before the January transfer window opened No deal with the 15-time champions of Europe has been formalised and he is yet to put pen to paper but it is likely he will be at the Bernabeu next season Alexander-Arnold clinched his second Premier League title with Liverpool last week to add to the Champions League He made his first-team bow in 2016 and has gone on to play 352 games, scoring 23 goals, the most recent of them at Leicester two weeks ago. His departure could mean Conor Bradley gets the chance to become Liverpool’s regular right-back or that Slot has to go into the transfer market. Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies Premier League clubs already jostling into position for big summer moves Sport | Football Transfer news LIVE Arsenal are on the verge of announcing Andrea Berta as their new sporting director and he is set to immediately turn his focus to the summer transfer window Benjamin Sesko and Viktor Gyokeres all still key forward targets while the Gunners are now said to be in a battle with Real Madrid to secure the signing of Martin Zubimendi Goalkeeper Joan Garcia could also be on his way to the Emirates in a cut-price deal with positive news from Milos Kerkez amid a potential breakthrough over Mohamed Salah’s contract Chelsea may move for Barcelona defender, as well as forwards Sesko or Liam Delap, while Tottenham want Dibling and are dealing with strong Atletico Madrid interest in Cristian Romero. Follow the latest transfer news, rumours and gossip live below! Atletico Madrid are said to be preparing a bid for Chelsea midfielder Enzo Fernandez Atletico are set to offer £25m plus midfielder Pablo Barrios who has been a regular for Diego Simeone’s side this summer Feels a fairly long shot considering Chelsea signed Fernandez for more than £100m.. Matheus Cunha has said he “couldn’t leave” Wolves in January while they were in a relegation fight The Brazilian attracted significant interest but he has now opened up on the decision to resist leaving Wolves mid-season while suggesting a move could come this summer “I had a lot of offers but I wouldn’t feel well if I had done it,” he told The Observer “Some things you can’t control but I couldn’t leave the club in the middle of the season we’re close to achieving our goal [of staying up] But I’ve made it clear that I need to take the next step Arsenal have confirmed the appointment of Andrea Berta as their new sporting director The Italian arrives in north London as the permanent replacement for Edu who resigned his post in November to take up a new challenge overseeing the growing portfolio of clubs under Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis Edu’s assistant Jason Ayto was named as his interim replacement while Arsenal conducted a thorough search for the Brazilian’s full-time successor They were linked with a whole host of external names as well as Ayto Thiago Scuro and Tomas Rosicky before Berta emerged as the leading contender for the job earlier in March Read more on that here! Manchester United could face a big decision over whether to sell Bruno Fernandes after it emerged the midfielder is a shock transfer target for Real Madrid. Real Madrid are ready to make a £90million move for Fernandes which would give cash-strapped United a major dilemma. Scouts are said to have been sent by Real Madrid to watch Fernandes as the Spanish giants plot an overhaul of their squad in the summer, having closed in on a deal to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer at the end of the season. According to the Daily Star, Fernandes has been identified as a top signing who could also be a potential successor to Luka Modric at the Bernabeu. United manager Ruben Amorim does not want to lose his inspirational captain but United need to raise money and they would have to consider a big offer for him. Jules Kounde is a key target for Chelsea this summer. That’s according to Spanish outlet Sport, with it claimed that the Blues are prioritising a move for the Barcelona defender, who is out of contract in 2027. It’s reported that Bournemouth’s Dean Huijsen is viewed as an alternative if a deal for Kounde can’t be agreed. Arsenal could be set to sign Joan Garcia in a cut-price deal this summer. The Gunners were linked with the Spanish goalkeeper last summer, but were put off by Espanyol’s demands of around £25m. However, AS report that Garcia’s release clause will fall to around £12.5m if Espanyol are relegated. They currently sit 15th in La Liga, two points clear of the drop zone. Arsenal’s incoming sporting director Andrea Berta will face a battle to secure the signing of Martin Zubimendi. The Gunners have completed the framework of the deal and are willing to meet the £50m release clause, but Real Madrid are also now said to be interested in the Real Sociedad midfielder. The Mirror report that Berta, who is on the verge of being announced by Arsenal, will be immediately tasked with wrapping up Zubimendi’s signing. Liverpool appear willing to move on from Harvey Elliott this summer. The 21-year-old has made almost 150 appearances across all competitions since moving to Anfield from Fulham in 2019 and remains a popular figure among fans, despite having not started a single Premier League game this season. Elliott’s dramatic late winning goal against Paris Saint-Germain in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie and his assist off the bench for Federico Chiesa in the Carabao Cup final has only increased the clamour among supporters for him to be handed more opportunities under Arne Slot. However, Sky Sports now claim that Liverpool would accept a “good offer” for the England Under-21 international this summer. Manchester United are reportedly set to hand a new contract to Bendito Mantato. The versatile England Under-17 forward is highly-rated at Old Trafford and has shone at youth level so far this season, last month scoring an extra-time winner in the FA Youth Cup quarter-final win at Arsenal. Fabrizio Romano now reports that Mantato will sign his first professional deal at United, penning terms for four years following talks with technical director Jason Wilcox and manager Ruben Amorim, who is said to be a big fan of the player. Mantato was among the youngsters that trained with United’s first team at Carrington on Friday, along with Jim Thwaites, Godwill Kukonki and Reece Munro. Chelsea may move for either Liam Delap or Benjamin Sesko this summer, reports claim. The Blues are among a number of top Premier League clubs set to be on the lookout for at least one new striker when the summer transfer market opens early in June. According to David Ornstein of The Athletic, Ipswich frontman Delap and RB Leipzig’s Sesko - a long-term target for Arsenal - are both potential options. However, he adds at this stage that it is currently unclear as to who they will opt to pursue. A new winger may also reportedly be on the way to Stamford Bridge this summer, depending on what happens with Mykhailo Mudryk. Prince Louis steals the show at VE Day parade as he keeps dad William looking sharp and mimics brother George Prince Louis steals show with sweet antics at VE parade Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in major blow for Putin ahead of Victory Day celebrations Ukraine 'launches stunning Kursk offensive' in blow for Putin VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Lady Victoria Starmer VE Day 2025 fashion: Princess of Wales to Lady Victoria Starmer New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications from nationalities most likely to overstay New visa crackdown as Home Office plans to restrict applications Rihanna shows off baby bump at star-studded Met Gala 2025 as singer's third pregnancy with A$AP Rocky announced Rihanna debuts baby bump on star-studded Met Gala blue carpet Ninad BarbadikarFootball tactics writerTrent Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool departure has finally been confirmed and the Premier League champions will already be thinking about how they could replace him The 26-year-old right-back has won it all since making his debut in 2016 including the Premier League twice and one Champions League Real Madrid seems the likely destination for the England defender but what should Liverpool do next - and who could they bring to Anfield Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool at end of season Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool & 'expected to join' Real Madrid - reaction and updates 'I know why Real appeal to Alexander-Arnold - I was tempted too' Alexander-Arnold has made a name for himself as a playmaking right-back with his creative numbers growing season after season the England international's talents were used in a variety of ways He started his career as an all-action right-back Then Klopp experimented with the idea of Alexander-Arnold playing further up the pitch asking him to take on an inverted role that meant he received the ball more often in the tighter spaces of midfield Alexander-Arnold has reverted back a little to his initial role in the side yet has remained a key creative force who does more than most to fashion one-against-one opportunities for Mohamed Salah the England international has proved invaluable for Liverpool especially in terms of playing out from the back and creating chances And his influence has remained strong this season Alexander-Arnold's role has changed under Slot but his influence remains strong as ever A touch map for Trent Alexander-Arnold for the 2023-24 season Alexander-Arnold's role has changed under Slot but his influence remains strong as everEnd of image galleryAlexander-Arnold has faced questions about his defending throughout his career But the statistics suggest he has arguably become an even better defender under Slot averaging more tackles and interceptions per match than before 'Exceptional' Bradley 'needs competition' Conor Bradley has been Alexander-Arnold's understudy since making the step up to the first team The Northern Ireland international will inevitably be involved in the conversations around who now fills the right-back spot Bradley has struggled to get a consistent run in the starting XI - playing fewer than 1,200 minutes this season It has been tough enough for him to get game time given he is competing with Alexander-Arnold for a place but recurring injuries have also hampered him But Bradley - who offers a significantly different profile at full-back than Alexander-Arnold - has always shown huge promise whenever he has played The 21-year-old has a great appetite for defensive work and enjoys getting into physical duels which dovetails with Slot's desire for Liverpool players to maintain a strong counter-press Bradley's biggest strength perhaps is his off-ball movement constantly darting with speed into underlapping runs beyond his winger to provide an option to pass to In a small sample of about 750 league minutes last season Bradley was averaging 7.62 progressive receptions per match - meaning he was receiving the ball at least seven times a game in positions closer to the opposition goal Bradley may get more minutes without Alexander-Arnold to contend with - but his injury record may force Liverpool to enter the transfer market Bradley's ability to cover ground up and down the right flank makes him a menace to handle Depending on how Slot chooses to configure the full-back roles this summer with a potential replacement for Robertson also needed there are a few players worth considering for Liverpool Here are three who you may not have thought of.. Guela Doue is 32 games into his second full season of senior football in Ligue 1 but is already making plenty of waves at Strasbourg under 40-year-old former Hull manager Liam Rosenior After breaking through in the 2023-24 season at Rennes Doue has demonstrated his versatility since his switch to Strasbourg The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international - brother of Paris St-Germain winger Desire - is a right-back who is well capable of playing as a wide centre-back in a three or as a right wing-back Doue's strengths lie in his ability to defend in one-against-one duels with intensity and move the ball upfield with his passes and carries When he gets the opportunity to bomb forward at right-back Doue's ability to progress the ball via passes or carries from the back is impressive The versatile defender has averaged 6.7 progressive carries with the ball this season in Ligue 1 standing only behind Diego Moreira at Strasbourg Doue likes receiving the ball deeper in his own half before progressing the ball further up the pitch with long passes forward to his winger or striker Doue would be ideal for Slot's backline if they plan to bring in an adventurous full-back on the other side - Bournemouth's Milos Kerkez has been strongly linked with a move Nicknamed the 'Danish Beckham' of Ajax Anton Gaaei has progressed quickly to become the first-choice right-back this season under Francesco Farioli who joined Ajax after three seasons in the Danish Superliga with Viborg has two goals and four assists in 23 Eredivisie appearances this term What immediately stands out about Gaaei is both the quality and variety of his crossing He is able to generate a lot of power with his right boot to cross the ball from deeper areas or hit the byline and cut back into the box too His trademark is a low cross hit diagonally to go past defenders to connect with on-rushing team-mates He did exactly that in the most recent 'De Klassieker' between Ajax and Feyenoord to set up the winner late in added time Gaaei's crossing ability makes him a standout full-back Gaaei continues to improve on the defensive side of his game which is helped by his excellent burst of pace in tracking back as well as making useful off-the-ball runs beyond his winger the young Dane benefits from Ajax's dominant style of play which sees him generate about five crosses per match Still only in his second season in Dutch football recruiting Gaaei would very much be a project signing for Liverpool but one that could well pay off in the long run The youngest player of the three - and arguably the one with the greatest potential - is Martim Fernandes who has impressed many since breaking into the Porto first team this season Fernandes has five assists to his name and at just 19 years of age He enjoys playing on the front foot and much like Alexander-Arnold adept at delivering into dangerous zones inside the opposition's six-yard box It is no wonder he is averaging an expected assists (xA) per match figure of 0.3 in the Portuguese top flight a hugely impressive figure considering his age The young Portuguese provides an option on the flanks by playing high and wide up the pitch when Porto are attacking but is also capable of adding variety by making darting runs for the centre-backs to pass to beyond the last defensive line of the opposition Fernandes' ability to create chances consistently from high-quality crosses is promising The Porto number 52 shows promising movement while underlapping or overlapping to hit the byline to cross and can manoeuvre in tight spaces to curl a cross into the box Fernandes has averaged an impressive 3.65 crosses per match His composure on the ball under pressure is impressive - and he has an excellent engine for the defensive side of the game Fernandes makes for an excellent raw talent who could fit the Alexander-Arnold mould for Liverpool A version of this article first went live on 18 April Get Liverpool news sent straight to your phone Rebuild job was always waiting for Arne Slot and expected exit of homegrown star to Real Madrid marks its start To make an end is to make a beginning: the end is where we start never had to rebuild a high-end Premier League team while also dealing with closing out a title race and losing your most successful homegrown player since the glory days of Phil Thompson waving the European Cup around in the pub and all that Read moreThis is the real point about the news that Trent Alexander‑Arnold’s move to Real Madrid is all but done Leaving on a free transfer is entirely on the club not the player just as it is a bit nuts to suggest Alexander‑Arnold should have signed an unwanted new contract in the hope this might winkle out more money for his soon to be former employer But it is still a shock for fans to see this finally come to pass It is also logical and reassuring that this will draw a powerful emotional response Football is not supposed to be a forgiving place when it comes to this kind of stuff There is simply no point having a reasoned counterpoint the tribal element; this is why football has survived more or less in the same form to this day This is why it is pointless telling anyone how to feel about things such as this It’s a passion play of ownership and familial bonds This quality is also a vital economic asset The day everyone is just fine with this and says: “Good luck is the day football dies as a spectacle worth following it is necessary to pay tribute to Alexander-Arnold The Premier League will miss him almost as much as Liverpool encouraged by Jürgen Klopp not to compromise on his outstanding gifts and to become a super‑strength player in a way that has created so many unforgettable moments Alexander-Arnold has more assists and more shots than any other career defender in Premier League history We remember the inadvertent comedy of the 2022 Champions League final‑winning goal the he’s‑behind‑you pantomime dynamic of Vinícius Júnior sneaking a full 60 yards on Alexander‑Arnold’s blind side to score from a cross as maddening as it was also comically sigma male the A-list defender who just will not defend Trent Alexander-Arnold: so casual you half expect to look down and notice he’s wearing flip-flops Photograph: Tom Jenkins/The GuardianOn the other side we have the genuinely sublime and original passing variations of pace; always effective but also just so much fun to watch in a homogenised game Alexander-Arnold is one of the few remaining elite maverick talents moving about with that familiar mooching grace so casual you half expect to look down and notice he’s wearing flip-flops This is how good he is: Madrid don’t want him to replace Dani Carvajal, or not completely. They want him to replace Toni Kroos too, to restore some of his range of passing. Meanwhile Alexander‑Arnold wants to win a Ballon d’Or This is above all a moment for the team that remains and in essence the real end of the Klopp era To date Slot has been able to show only his best side striding his touchline looking like the owner of a successful chain of provincial bakers here to receive a regional business award from the Duchess of Sandwich It is still best to see the new era as a hybrid to this point an extended Viking funeral for the age of Klopp but Liverpool have looked tired as the season has narrowed and in a way that feels like more than just a physical thing This is a side reaching their tipping point And this summer could yet bring a genuine tectonic shift For all the serene progress to this point, this team don’t really look finished. Is the midfield really settled? Is Salah-dependence, the sheer weight of his goals and assists, really a long-term recipe for success? Either way it seems clear this will not become another Souness-style nightmare, an act of precision rebalancing carried out with all the delicacy of a man repointing a gingerbread house with a sledgehammer. But the rebuild was always waiting. And while Alexander‑Arnold may not have left an envelope of cash on the mantelpiece to help that process he is at least speeding it along, giving information, flagging the task to come. Trent Alexander Arnold (left) is out of contract this summer Captain Virgil van Dijk says Trent Alexander-Arnold will "always be remembered for good things" at Liverpool even if he decides to leave as a free agent this summer The right-back is out of contract at the end of the season and has held talks with Real Madrid Van Dijk and forward Mohamed Salah ended speculation over their futures by signing fresh two-year deals during the past fortnight But with five matches left of Liverpool's season Alexander-Arnold's future remains unresolved 'Iconic moment in a special Liverpool career - but was it a farewell?' How could Liverpool replace Alexander-Arnold Liverpool one win from title - but when could they clinch it he has been a fantastic player and there's a lot of good things that he will always be remembered for if he decides to leave," said Van Dijk "Whatever may happen in the future for him that's something he has to resolve with himself and the family "But he's a Liverpool player at this point and he's important for our team." Second-half substitute Alexander-Arnold scored the only goal as Liverpool moved closer to a 20th league title with a 1-0 win against Leicester City on Sunday. removing his shirt in front of the away fans The meaning of Alexander-Arnold's celebration has been debated but Van Dijk says the Liverpool squad have had no inclination about the England player's future we don't know as a group what's going to happen," added Van Dijk "He is already under a lot of pressure so there is no point for me to put him on the spot whatsoever." 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I was once tempted to make a big move to Spain myself Alexander-Arnold is 26 and out of contract at the end of the season so he is in a position where he either commits the rest of his career to Liverpool or decides to go to Real - who clearly want him If he was to leave Liverpool for any other club you might wonder why I don't think you could question it as a career move Real are the biggest club in the world with an incredible history so it would be a massive opportunity and I'd understand if he felt it was too good to turn down so I can understand why leaving them is more of a dilemma but sometimes as a player you have to make these decisions about where your future lies When I told Manchester United in 2010 that I did not want to sign a new deal and put in a transfer request Manchester City are often talked about as being one of them but I don't think that was ever an option for me - the teams who made an approach were Chelsea I was ready to go and play in Spain and some talks did take place A deal with Real looked more likely for a couple of days but it was Barcelona whom I thought about the most and how I might fit into their side alongside Lionel Messi but Barca had an incredible team then and any player would have loved to have played in it Real are the same now with superstars like Kylian Mbappe so of course it must be appealing to Alexander-Arnold to think about playing alongside them - anyone would feel the same He has been at Liverpool for almost 20 years - since he was six - but the reality is that most players move at some point - that's why there are so few one-club men like Gary Neville and Jamie Carragher I would not blame Alexander-Arnold for wanting to do something a little bit different - like a fresh challenge in a new country - Spain would be a really good move for him Alexander-Arnold has won every domestic trophy with Liverpool including the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020 Winning trophies was the biggest reason I considered leaving United in 2010 I was about to turn 25 and I was concerned about the direction of the club I don't think anyone could say that's the reason Alexander-Arnold would want to leave Liverpool because they are on the verge of winning the Premier League He's had a brilliant time there and has already won everything there is to win It was a completely different situation for me when I left my boyhood club I did not want to leave them when I did - I was devastated - but I would have moved on at some point to try to better myself and win some trophies That's another reason why Liverpool fans might wonder why Alexander-Arnold might leave now because he is already doing that with them it comes back to experiencing a different culture If he goes to Real he would be very likely to enjoy even more success in a different country - and have the challenge of not just winning more trophies we are seeing a lot of young English players go abroad and have huge success there and I am sure Alexander-Arnold has seen how much they enjoy it The fact he is close to Bellingham would make the move feel easier as well Trent Alexander-Arnold has made 349 appearances for Liverpool since his senior debut for the club I get why Liverpool fans are upset and even angry at the thought of Alexander-Arnold leaving - all supporters like to see local lads coming through at their club and they never like to see them being sold I feel like it is the fact he would be going on a free which has upset them the most but that situation is down to Liverpool as well as Alexander-Arnold We don't know why his contract has been allowed to run down - or whether that is down to him or the club - but it is something Liverpool have done with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk this season too and also in the past with Georginio Wijnaldum and Roberto Firmino No-one seems to have said much about the other players letting their deals run down I think that's because he's a local lad Alexander-Arnold has been an excellent servant to the club so you can't begrudge him wanting to try something new It would not just be a shame for Liverpool fans if he left because you want to see the best players in the Premier League but just because there are talks over a transfer does not mean it will happen It is well known that some United fans protested outside my house when they thought I was going to leave in 2010 but I'd agreed my new contract by then Alexander-Arnold has not signed anything with Real yet and it would not surprise me if A lot can happen before a contract is signed - as I know from experience Wayne Rooney was speaking to BBC Sport's Chris Bevan Premier League reaction & Champions League race latest as Forest draw at Palace Alexander-Arnold leaves as modern Liverpool great - but fans will feel hurt 'Scheffler and DeChambeau wins further raise US PGA excitement levels' Palmer's brilliance could be key moment in Chelsea's Champions League quest Still number one & 'sparring' with Draper - return of Sinner Two opposing views on football's transgender ban Chief football writer at The King Power StadiumPublished20 April 20251038 CommentsThe sight of Trent Alexander-Arnold celebrating bare chested with arms outstretched his red shirt hoisted on a corner flag at King Power Stadium will become an iconic image of Liverpool's march to the Premier League title Amid the wild elation that followed his late winner at relegated Leicester City it left Liverpool's big questions still hanging in the air Will Alexander-Arnold leave his home city club behind in pursuit of new glory with Real Madrid in Spain Or could the outpouring of love between Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool's fans be a lifeline for those hoping the player they call "the Scouser in our team" may yet stay Liverpool and Real Madrid will know the answers to the celebrating of another special moment in his special Liverpool career will be enough for Reds fans Speculation regarding his Liverpool future has increased following the new deals signed by Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk after making his 350th appearance for his boyhood club He said: "I have said all season that I am not going to speak on my situation "But days like this are always special winning titles - they are special moments for me and I am glad to do my part." Liverpool manager Arne Slot was also guarded saying: "My only good answer is to talk about his goal and all the good things he has done for this club for so many years "He is incredible if he sets his mind to it he can bring a bit more and that is something only the top An air of inevitability hung heavily over all that played out in the sunshine before Alexander-Arnold scored with 14 minutes left to give Liverpool a 1-0 win and send Leicester City down Liverpool played like a team who knew they will be champions Leicester City played like a team who knew they would be relegated And the final part of the script was written when Alexander-Arnold returned as a substitute with 19 minutes left having been out since early March with an ankle injury Premier League: Leicester relegated as Alexander-Arnold scores Liverpool winner - report & reaction Superstar Trent Alexander Arnold's 'unbelievable' left foot half-volley It took him five minutes to release the pressure valve that had been building as the doomed Foxes frustrated Liverpool The scenes that followed will be tantalising ones for any Liverpool fan who clings to the hope Alexander-Arnold will reject the advances of Real Madrid Could there still be a late twist in Alexander-Arnold's long-running contract situation and the communion between Alexander-Arnold and those fans in one red-drenched corner of King Power Stadium There is confidence in Spain that Alexander-Arnold will be at Real Madrid next season - but the leaving of Liverpool will still be tough for a player who grew up in the city's West Derby district He has faced some criticism for not committing to Liverpool especially since Salah and Van Dijk signed new contracts This was a show of glorious unity between supporters and the local boy who has won everything during his Anfield career It may be those hoping Alexander-Arnold will remain at Liverpool will read more into the celebrations than was there When he finally ended the defiance of Leicester City keeper Mads Hermansen it was the 23rd goal of his professional career and the first scored with his left foot Alexander-Arnold responded by ripping off his Liverpool shirt before running towards the corner flag bellowing in joy at the supporters as he was mobbed by team-mates He then planted his shirt on the corner flag like a player who had reached his personal Everest It left Liverpool at the Premier League summit with the title party set for Anfield against Tottenham Hotspur next Sunday when three points will complete what has long been a formality The celebrations may even start earlier depending on the outcome of Arsenal's game at home to Crystal Palace on Wednesday Liverpool's players pushed Alexander-Arnold towards the corner where their fans were congregated to take individual acclaim Will the sight of those fans tug on Alexander-Arnold's heartstrings or has his head already made the decision to join the Galacticos of Real Madrid Liverpool's priority is the more immediate one of winning that 20th title Slot said: "It is never hard to dream but it is also clear that we are really focused on playing The boys deserve to have a day off and hopefully they will enjoy that and then focus on Tottenham." his future remains undecided - publicly at least - but if this was part of his Liverpool farewell To load Comments you need to enable JavaScript in your browser View comments | 1038Top storiesHis stats are better who is expected to join Real Madrid on a free this summer fired in his first left-foot goal for his boyhood club on his return from an ankle injury to secure victory and condemn Leicester to relegation Read more“It is a big moment and big players like to have big moments in their career,” Slot said. “Virgil had one last week [scoring the winning goal against West Ham] Mo [Salah] has had them many times this season and players like Trent He did that against Newcastle and in his second-half performance against Paris Saint‑Germain when I was just waiting for him to score a goal and then he had to go off with an injury.” Asked whether Liverpool have given up hope of keeping Alexander-Arnold Slot said: “The headline should be today the goal he scored and not about his contract but what I can say is it would be ridiculous if someone argues his commitment for this club because the work rate he has put in today to be back and score such an important goal and all the work he has done for this club in all the years he is here Let the headlines be his great goal and not his contract situation.” who was appointed in November as Leicester manager on a contract until 2027 said he is planning to be in charge next season but his future is thought to be in doubt Leicester have sounded out potential successors in recent weeks “We have to use this time to get better,” Van Nistelrooy said “The club will continue and it is my job to put the club in the best place possible.” This article was amended on 19 April 2025 Trent Alexander-Arnold’s shirt was placed on the corner flag by Kostas Tsimikas not by Alexander-Arnold himself as an earlier version said It was during the March international break when the Liverpool right-back who was recovering from an ankle injury sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in the second leg of the Champions League last 16 tie went to see the Dutchman in his office at the Kirkby training complex Alexander-Arnold informed Slot that he had decided to leave his boyhood club when his contract expired at the end of the season He explained how he felt at this stage of his career that he needed to step out of his comfort zone and pursue a new challenge Slot expressed his disappointment but said he respected his vice-captain’s decision “You’re a huge part of this team and let’s end it on a high together,” Slot told him Having been reassured that the head coach still wanted him to feature once he was fit as Liverpool closed in on Premier League title glory Alexander-Arnold replied: “My mindset and commitment won’t change I’ll continue to give everything for this club until the final day.” It was around the same time in March that Alexander-Arnold’s representative formally notified Liverpool sporting director Richard Hughes that he wouldn’t be signing a new contract at Anfield There was little sense of surprise at the club given talks over an extension had effectively ended earlier that month with Alexander-Arnold then taking some time to reach a final decision He was determined to keep the news under wraps until after the title had been won to avoid creating any unwanted distractions for the team Now, eight days after the wild celebrations at Anfield that followed the 5-1 thrashing of Tottenham, there is official confirmation of his impending exit Both out of respect to Liverpool and the fact that a long-term contract with Real Madrid is not yet signed and sealed Alexander-Arnold has not confirmed his destination but he is set to grace the Bernabeu next season It ends a 20-year association with Liverpool dating back to when he first joined the academy at the age of six He lived his dream as he clocked up over 350 appearances and won the Champions League The Athletic has spoken to multiple sources with knowledge of Alexander-Arnold’s situation on the condition of anonymity to protect their positions in an effort to answer the key questions surrounding his decision to depart find themselves in a position where one of their most valuable assets will be leaving for nothing at the peak of his powers When did Real Madrid’s charm offensive start in earnest It was the first time in his professional career that Alexander-Arnold had entered the final two years of his contract He had previously penned extensions in July 2017 with Liverpool regularly rewarding his development and growing importance to the side with improved terms Having been appointed vice-captain by Jurgen Klopp following the departure of James Milner he had expected Liverpool to open talks before the start of the 2023-24 season There was major upheaval behind the scenes at Anfield Julian Ward had stepped down as sporting director just a year after succeeding Michael Edwards Unable to find a suitable long-term successor Liverpool gave the job to Jorg Schmadtke on an interim basis The German executive was tempted out of retirement after being recommended by Klopp’s agent Schmadtke described himself as Klopp’s “assistant” and his focus was on negotiating transfer deals as the club embarked on a midfield rebuild the situation was complicated by Klopp informing FSG president Mike Gordon that he had run out of energy and would be leaving at the end of the season Once Klopp had announced the news publicly two months later it was clear that everything would be on hold until there was clarity about the direction Liverpool were going in No player was going to commit without knowing who was taking over and where he stood in his plans With Gordon keen to take a step back himself, he managed to convince Edwards to return to the fold with greater responsibility and his first task was to bring in Hughes from Bournemouth as sporting director Hughes’ initial priority was leading the search for Klopp’s replacement Hughes’ first call in the job had actually been to Alexander-Arnold’s camp to introduce himself and in late April last year talks over a new contract were initiated with an opening offer made before the end of that month The England international understood the circumstances behind why it had taken Liverpool so long to come to the table he privately started to wonder whether the 2024-25 season could be his last for the club Interest from Real Madrid was already well known and he questioned how strongly Liverpool really wanted to keep him Those concerns were allayed in the months that followed by the subsequent offers that Hughes made It would have made Alexander-Arnold the highest paid full-back in the Premier League and one of the highest in world football Alexander-Arnold was already considering the prospect of moving to Spain “Look, I have been at the club 20 years now. I have signed four or five contract extensions and none of those have been played out in public. This one won’t be either,” Alexander-Arnold told reporters following Liverpool’s 3-0 home win over Bournemouth in September Pushed on whether he wanted to stay at Anfield he added: “I want to be a Liverpool player this season (as a minimum) is what I will say.” It was the first and final time Alexander-Arnold stopped in a media mixed zone all season When he conducted interviews with TV rights holders He kept his counsel as the speculation around his future cranked up even if that meant allowing others to fill the void with inaccurate information Privately, he was wrestling with the biggest decision of his life. It was made more difficult by the close relationship he had quickly established with Slot. He loved the new head coach’s meticulous planning and attention to detail Alexander-Arnold regards him as a genius and a perfectionist who has helped take the defensive side of his game to the next level “I want you to be harsh on me,” Alexander-Arnold told Slot as they sat together at Kirkby to analyse his performances during the early weeks of the season It was clear to him that Liverpool would be serious contenders for the biggest prizes with Slot at the helm It helped Alexander-Arnold that there was also so much noise for most of the season surrounding the futures of team-mates Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah who both ultimately ended up penning two-year extensions in April What cut deep was when he heard or read his commitment being questioned with suggestions that ‘his head was already in Spain’ It reached a crescendo in the build-up to the visit of rivals Manchester United to Anfield on January 5 The player had responded to reports in the Spanish media that he had already given Real Madrid his word that he would join them by making a talking gesture when celebrating scoring in the 5-0 rout of West Ham United Liverpool officially rejected an approach from Real Madrid who wanted to buy him in the January window It was unsolicited and prior to the January 1 date when they were allowed to speak with the player Sources in Spain indicated they were willing to pay around £20million rather than wait six months to land him on a free transfer but no figures were discussed during a brief exchange Edwards and Hughes vowed to keep the squad together for the rest of the season and knew Alexander-Arnold’s value to them was much greater with Slot’s side still competing on four fronts Liverpool had also snubbed strong interest from Saudi Pro League outfit Al Nassr in striker Darwin Nunez On January 18 there was a sense of vindication internally when Alexander-Arnold created the opening goal for Nunez in a dramatic win at Brentford rivals Arsenal threw away a 2-0 lead against Aston Villa as Slot’s side strengthened their grip on the title race Alexander-Arnold was hurt by accusations that he had actively encouraged the late December approach. He knew Real Madrid had a crisis at right-back following the knee injury suffered by Dani Carvajal in October and that they wanted to secure his services but he was never looking to leave mid-season He only learned a few minutes before it emerged in the UK media on New Year’s Eve that an approach had been received and rejected he was still in active contract talks with Liverpool and hadn’t made his mind up about his future All the criticism affected him against Manchester United He made a number of mistakes and bore the brunt of the Anfield crowd’s frustration during the 2-2 draw He was grateful for Slot’s support — both publicly and privately — during a difficult period and the reception he got from the away end when he came on against Tottenham Hotspur in the first leg of the Carabao Cup semi-final in London three days later lifted his spirits He then captained Liverpool and scored in the FA Cup win over Accrington Stanley There was an ovation when he was replaced by Conor Bradley in the second half Real Madrid had long since been keeping close tabs on Alexander-Arnold’s contract situation and had been confident of securing his signature since November They have made a habit in recent years of signing up some of European football’s finest talent on free transfers Chief scout Juni Calafat is always tasked with forging strong links with a target and establishing a player’s willingness to move before general manager Jose Angel Sanchez steps in and leads negotiations with all major decisions needing the green light from club president Florentino Perez After Carvajal ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament against Villarreal the Madrid board decided that Alexander-Arnold was their top target as they sought to recruit a right-back they were already looking for a long-term successor but suddenly faced with a gaping void in the team they wanted Alexander-Arnold as soon as possible a source close to coach Carlo Ancelotti told The Athletic: “What I know is that without a right-back it is impossible to win the Champions League.” Senior figures at Real Madrid thought with Liverpool so far ahead domestically and with an impressive deputy in Bradley the Premier League leaders might be open to pocketing a fee rather than losing him for nothing in the summer But they were mistaken and Madrid’s approach was instantly rejected With Liverpool steadfast in their desire to keep Alexander-Arnold for the rest of the season Madrid’s focus shifted back to signing him as a free agent They explained the sporting and economic project in detail and asked him not to renew his contract on Merseyside There was growing certainty in the Spanish capital that they would get their man Ancelotti and other senior figures at the club’s Valdebebas training facility had been informed by the board that the deal was as good as done Slot continued to pick Alexander-Arnold because his attitude did not waver and he did not want to deprive himself of such a creative force The head coach knew the lengths to which Alexander-Arnold had gone to make himself available He had played for Liverpool with the aid of painkilling injections after suffering a side strain for England against Finland back in October He then worked tirelessly during his rehab to get back ahead of schedule after damaging his ankle against PSG in mid-March That is why there was such an outpouring of emotion when he scored the winner on his comeback away at Leicester City on April 20 he wanted to prove that he was still devoted to securing the club’s 20th top-flight crown “Let the headlines be his great goal and not his contract situation,”  Slot told reporters post-match “It would be ridiculous if someone argues about his commitment to his club.” Fellow home-grown players Steve McManaman and Michael Owen had previously left Anfield for Real Madrid in search of glory but Alexander-Arnold’s situation is different given the runaway title triumph under Slot His status as a free agent means there will be a hefty signing-on fee but money was never going to be the motivating factor for Alexander-Arnold he would have invited offers from across Europe and considered interest from the Premier League it did not matter what Liverpool offered him financially Another £5m a year would have changed nothing and there’s little sense of bitterness or resentment on either side who inherited a tricky situation a year ago and did everything he could to convince him to stay the protracted negotiations were cordial and constructive but it became increasingly clear that an agreement could not be reached They could not give him what he wanted — a fresh challenge who holds the record for most Premier League assists by a defender was fully immersed in the celebrations on the field after the emphatic victory over Tottenham at Anfield that wrapped up the title He stepped forward to be serenaded by the Kop as they chanted about “the Scouser in our team” He stood in front of the supporters with his arms outstretched before tapping his heart There was some speculation that the scenes might lead to a dramatic U-turn there was a warm exchange with Liverpool’s principal owner “You’ve been an amazing player for this team and I can’t thank you enough for what you’ve given to this club,” Henry told him but I wish you well for the future.” Alexander-Arnold replied: “Thank you for everything A couple of streets away, on the corner of Sybil Road, there’s a giant mural of Alexander-Arnold on the wall, accompanied by the quote: “I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has just come true.” He had uttered those words after the Champions League final victory over Tottenham in Madrid in 2019. Now his story will continue in the Spanish capital. 2440 CommentsEngland right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he will leave Premier League champions Liverpool at the end of the season is out of contract on 30 June and is expected to join Real Madrid "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season," Alexander-Arnold announced on social media "This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life." Alexander-Arnold is one of three high-profile players whose deals at Anfield run out this summer but while Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk have signed fresh contracts in recent weeks Alexander-Arnold will leave when his expires The Liverpool-born defender has made 352 appearances scored 23 goals and provided 86 assists for the club since making his debut in 2016 He has helped them win this season's top-flight title under Arne Slot and also won the Premier League under the Reds' former manager Jurgen Klopp in 2019-20 His other trophies with Liverpool include the Champions League in 2018-19 "This club has been my whole life – my whole world - for 20 years," added Alexander-Arnold "From the academy right through until now the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally." Liverpool said Alexander-Arnold "will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success" Get Liverpool news sent straight to your phone Alexander-Arnold was a midfielder during his days in Liverpool's academy but was introduced into the first team by Klopp as a right-back Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold have been a major talking point during Slot's first season in charge with the Dutchman regularly being asked about their futures Salah announced he was staying on a new two-year deal in April and was followed by Van Dijk agreeing similar terms the following week However the speculation about Alexander-Arnold continued and, while Slot praised the defender on 18 April and said his future was still "not done" Alexander-Arnold said he had waited to announce his decision as Liverpool had now secured their 20th top-flight title "Obviously there's been a lot of noise around what the decision was going to be and how that was going to look," said Alexander-Arnold "I know a lot of people will say I should have said sooner a lot of people will say maybe I waited for the right time But I felt personally the focus should always be on the pitch "When we were in a title race and trying to push for trophies it's about making the right decision for the team and trying not to distract the team and take away from what we're doing on the pitch "Now that we've won the league and we've been able to celebrate it and celebrate such an amazing achievement I felt like now is the right time to get it off my chest and tell the fans the truth Liverpool rejected an approach from Real Madrid for Alexander-Arnold in January and while his decision to leave has come as a major disappointment to the club they believe they did all they could to convince him to stay Richard Hughes contacted Alexander-Arnold's representatives before he officially took over as Liverpool's sporting director last summer Formal negotiations started following Slot being confirmed as Klopp's successor last May and while contact was ongoing during cordial and constructive negotiations it became clear to the club that Alexander-Arnold would not sign a new contract Hughes met Alexander-Arnold's representatives for a final time earlier this Spring and The biggest unkept secret in English football is finally confirmed: Trent Alexander-Arnold is leaving Liverpool after 20 years at his boyhood club What happens next will hardly be a bombshell revelation either the defender will join Real Madrid on a free transfer in the coming weeks following months of discussions with the Spanish giants It's the lure of a new challenge - the prestige of becoming a Galactico - that is the overriding motivation for Alexander-Arnold while he will undoubtedly be well remunerated in the Spanish capital - with well-placed sources indicating his basic wage in Madrid will be supplemented by a healthy commercial and image rights package - Liverpool were willing to make Alexander-Arnold one of the best-paid defenders in Premier League history to sign a new contract at Anfield But you get the impression that money isn't the sole driver for Alexander-Arnold He's won everything there is to win with Liverpool too; playing a key role in the club's 20th league title triumph Winning at Real Madrid puts you on different stratosphere even for someone as emotionally attached to his surroundings as Alexander-Arnold is will relinquish the vice-captaincy - a role Mohamed Salah is understood to be a prime candidate to fill for next season Leaving home will carry an emotional burden but a new challenge is on the horizon for Alexander-Arnold Alexander-Arnold helped Liverpool win Europe's top competition for a sixth time when they beat Tottenham in the 2019 Champions League final Liverpool's Premier League win in 2020 ended a 30-year wait for an English top-flight title View comments | 2440Top storiesHis stats are better Liverpool have announced that Trent Alexander-Arnold will be leaving the club when his contract at Anfield expires at the end of the season Alexander-Arnold’s departure this summer, reportedly to Real Madrid, will bring an end to a 20-year spell at his boyhood team during which he made 257 Premier League appearances, helping Liverpool to win the title in 2019/20 and 2024/25 and finish as runners-up in 2018/19 and 2021/22 “I think first and foremost, I want to say it’s not an easy decision and there’s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it," Alexander-Arnold told the club's official website. "I’ve been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here. “Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think now is the right time for me to do that. "There’s a lot I would like to say. The main thing is a massive thank you. You guys have been there from the start with me, you guys have supported me, been there. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Trent Alexander-Arnold (@trentarnold66) everything that you guys have done has never been unnoticed by me I hope they have felt that has been reciprocated and that I’ve given everything I could to the club “I’m just hoping that we’re able to carry on winning games the noise [around my decision] doesn’t take away from the fact of what we’ve achieved this season It has been amazing to be part of it and I just hope that everyone is able to maybe not dwell on this news for too long and be able to celebrate what the rest of the lads have done.” Liverpool said: "Alexander-Arnold will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success.” Alexander-Arnold has played a part in 72 clean sheets but as an attacking full-back he has provided 82 goal involvements (18 goals first joined the Merseyside club as a six-year-old and rose through the ranks of Liverpool's academy where he mainly played as a midfielder Alexander-Arnold captained Liverpool's Under-16 and Under-18 teams but it was his switch from a midfield role to defence that fast-tracked his breakthrough into the first team Having been handed a senior debut as an 18-year-old by Jurgen Klopp in the EFL Cup in October 2016 Alexander-Arnold never looked back and the creative ability he had developed as a midfielder became a game-changing attribute at right-back Alexander-Arnold became an integral part of a Liverpool side that lifted four trophies in 14 months After winning the UEFA Champions League in 2018/19 he helped the Reds to claim the Premier League FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA Super Cup in 2019/20 - a season in which he passed the 100-appearances mark for his boyhood club his importance to Klopp was underlined by the fact he featured in all 38 matches en route to Liverpool's first English league title since 1990 A mural on the side of a house in Liverpool pays tribute to Alexander-Arnold with his famous words from after winning the Champions League "I am just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has just come true." Alexander-Arnold contributed 13 Premier League assists during 2019/20 – a record for a defender – having bettered his tally of 12 in 2018/19 His emergence as a world-class right-back was confirmed The No 66's leadership qualities did not go unnoticed by head coach Klopp and in December 2020 he became the youngest player to captain Liverpool in European competition in a 1-1 UEFA Champions League draw with Midtyjlland Alexander-Arnold signed a new long-term deal the following summer and went on to deliver stellar performances throughout the 2021/22 season, winning November's EA SPORT Player of the Month award the second time he had claimed the accolade he went on to produce a career-best 18 assists in all competitions - including 12 in the Premier League - across a 63-match campaign in which Alexander-Arnold reached another Champions League final and picked up EFL Cup and FA Cup winner's medals Alexander-Arnold's exceptional versatility and vision led to him being given a new inverted full-back role towards the end of the following campaign This switch proved a catalyst for an improved run of form and in the same month when he produced the 50th Premier League assist of his career he became the first player to assist a goal in five consecutive top-flight matches on two occasions Despite injury restricting him to 28 appearances in 2023/24 Alexander-Arnold still recorded seven goal involvements (three goals he has three goals and six assists during another injury-affected campaign Michael Owen and Steve Cooper discuss the top-five race and who they think will be in the competition next season Your entry has been submitted successfully Please check your email for further information Northern Football CorrespondentMonday May 05 2025 The TimesAs Trent Alexander-Arnold whipped off his shirt after scoring at Leicester City and then danced in front of the Kop to celebrate Premier League title success it appeared there was nowhere else he would rather be His passion for Liverpool came spilling out as dreams were being realised and those giddy images do not now need to be reappraised following confirmation he is leaving this summer on a free transfer Alexander-Arnold is not departing because he has fallen out of love with the club he joined at the age of six or because he believes they will not continue to be successful under the head coach Arne Slot Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced that he will leave Anfield at the end of the season ahead of his imminent transfer to Real Madrid Alexander-Arnold has faced months of rumours about whether he would leave Anfield or sign a new contract at his hometown club The Reds managed to tie down Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk to new two-year deals but talks with Alexander-Arnold had always seemed a bit trickier And, in the end, the Liverpool academy product had his heart set on a move to Real Madrid with Los Blancos seemingly pulling out all the stops to secure his signature There had even been suggestions last month that the Reds – who won the Premier League title eight days ago against Tottenham – had made a last-gasp ‘super offer’ to keep him at Anfield READ MORE: Alexander-Arnold joins list of every Premier League club’s biggest free transfer exit Reliable journalists had always maintained that Alexander-Arnold would leave and the England right-back confirmed that he will depart at the end of the season The statement read: “After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life “I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests “This club has been my whole life – my whole world – for 20 years taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally “I’ve given my all every single day I’ve been at this club and I hope you feel like I’ve given back to you during my time here the staff and our incredible supporters – for the last 20 years “I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never ever take for granted the special moments I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all My love for this club will never die.” Alexander-Arnold has achieved almost everything during his time at Anfield with the England international winning two Premier League titles a UEFA Super Cup and a FIFA Club World Cup But there have been rumours that one of the main reasons Alexander-Arnold wanted to move to Real Madrid was to attempt to win the Ballon d’Or with players in England often overlooked for the award Liverpool legend John Aldridge reckons speculation over his future impacted Alexander-Arnold’s performances early on this year but he has been key in recent weeks as the Reds won the title Aldridge said: “He went through a tricky spell about a month ago “Maybe it was on his mind because he did go through a sticky patch but we all do that “With what’s surrounding him and the hype he’s got a lot to take on board now.” READ NEXT: Ex-Liverpool star Owen insists only two sides can win the Premier League title next season © Planet Sport Limited 2025 • All Rights Reserved Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season, but there is no question the two-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner will be departing as a Liverpool great Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he will be leaving Anfield at the end of the season but there is no question the two-time Premier League champion and Champions League winner will be departing as a Liverpool great Jurgen Klopp’s favourite assist of his eight and a half years on Merseyside launching some extraordinary passes over vast distances and that no one can replicate Alexander-Arnold’s contribution Yet a century of goal involvements in a Liverpool shirt was remarkable; it was more than Fernando Torres Real may imagine Kylian Mbappe or Vinicius Junior racing on to Alexander-Arnold’s deliveries from deep Superstars of his generation might form part of his rationale for going: he was the youngest of Klopp’s great team and is now leaving a champion side but also a club whose two finest players are in their thirties the apocalyptic scenario of losing three outstanding players for nothing has been averted yet there should still be questions about how it came to this New sporting director Richard Hughes got in touch with the right-back’s representatives even before taking charge and eventually submitted an offer that would have made him one of the best-paid players in his position in the world but the context may have changed in the power vacuum before his appointment Rewind to 2023 and Alexander-Arnold had an excitement at getting the vice-captaincy. It showed Klopp had a long-term plan. In the end, the smooth succession came in the dugout, with Arne Slot taking over from Klopp Much as Alexander-Arnold enjoyed working with Slot the man to eventually inherit Virgil van Dijk’s armband will not be his current deputy For a club who otherwise plan the future well allowing the three contracts to enter the last year during a transitional time at Anfield Van Dijk and Mohamed Salah were always different cases their ages a reason to wait to see if they declined their preference to stay at Anfield giving the club an advantage in negotiations Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold’s friendship with Jude Bellingham is often cited as a factor as his future seemed ever likelier to lie in Spain that Real often capitalise on such situations They do not pay for defenders when they can sign David Alaba and Antonio Rudiger on free transfers Real’s superiority complex might have been apparent in their midwinter attempt to sign Alexander-Arnold as though they could get him when it suited them even if it may work out in the right-back’s favour A free transfer could be more lucrative for him than a £20m transfer They have lacked a specialist right-back for much of this season with Lucas Vazquez and Fede Valverde played out of position they will have two of the finest in the world with the six-time Champions League winner fit again It prompts the question of where they fit in: with Carvajal at centre-back At Liverpool, meanwhile, there is no need to trawl back to 2019 for memories of his commitment. Last week, he was jigging in joy on the Anfield pitch with his fellow full-back and friend Andy Robertson after the title-winning victory over Tottenham there was the arrowed finish at Leicester to take Liverpool to the brink of the title the shirtless celebration in front of the travelling fans It was his first left-footed goal for Liverpool paving the way for a free transfer to Real Madrid The 26-year-old confirmed the decision on his social media channels on Monday. He informed the Liverpool head coach, Arne Slot, that he would not be signing a contract extension at the end of March but kept the news private to avoid distracting from the club’s successful pursuit of the Premier League title He is believed to have verbally agreed a five-year contract with Real Madrid that reports in Spain claim will be worth around £7.5m a year after tax Confirmation of Alexander-Arnold’s exit as a free agent is a major setback for Liverpool although the club believes it did everything within its power to convince the homegrown defender to stay He was offered a new contract at Anfield that would have made him the best paid full-back in the Premier League and one of the highest paid full-backs in the world the player’s desire for a fresh challenge usurped the financial and sporting package on offer at Liverpool Upheaval at the top of the club – from sporting directors leaving to having to find a successor to Jürgen Klopp last year – meant talks over a new deal for Alexander-Arnold did not commence formally until Slot was appointed in May 2024 Richard Hughes made the first approach to Alexander-Arnold’s representatives before officially starting as Liverpool’s new sporting director on 1 June last year but it became clear in March that the England international was set on a move to Spain and Liverpool would not be able to retain him as well as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk both of whom recently signed new two-year contracts “After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season,” said Alexander-Arnold “This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet Trent Alexander-Arnold has made more than 350 appearances for Liverpool winning the Champions League and two Premier League titles Photograph: Joe Giddens/PA“This club has been my whole life – my whole world – for 20 years “I’ve given my all every single day I’ve been at this club the staff and our incredible supporters – for the last 20 years I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool’s youth ranks at the age of six and made his first-team debut in a League Cup tie against Tottenham in October 2016 He has gone on to make 352 appearances for his boyhood club scoring 23 goals and winning the Champions League Liverpool could receive a compensation fee for Alexander-Arnold if he joins Real before his contract expires on 30 June. Real are competing in the Club World Cup this summer and are entitled to register new players from 1-10 June. However, it is unclear when Alexander-Arnold will complete his move to the Bernabéu. “Alexander-Arnold will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success,” read a Liverpool statement. The player will remain part of Slot’s squad for the final three games of the season and for the presentation of the Premier League trophy after the finale against Crystal Palace on 25 May. Here's how the news broke and Alexander-Arnold's statement Alexander-Arnold 'expected to join Real Madrid' & Bradley the 'next cab off the rank' - Sami Mokbel & Phil McNulty analysis One of the finest attacking full-backs in the world & one of the all-time Premier League defenders? Stats and analysis Reaction from fans is mixed - some wish him well while others say believe he's making the wrong choice Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season, saying it was "the hardest decision he has ever made". 5855Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 15:43 British Summer Time 5 May15:43 BST 5 May#bbcfootball via WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only when Conor Bradley won the player of the season award when on loan to us in 22/23 that he would replace Trent Alexander-Arnold sooner rather than later He was outstanding that season as a 19-year-old and now is ready to step up as the permanent replacement 3386Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 15:39 British Summer Time 5 May15:39 BST 5 MayGet Involved: #bbcfootball WhatsApp on 03301231826 or text 81111 (UK only The comments from Liverpool fans about Real are just bitter Real haven't been so good this season but history wise they're the biggest club in the world of course it's going to lure players in Liverpool fans were also quick to turn on Trent after the Real rumours came in 130288Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAlexander-Arnold's Liverpool statspublished at 15:38 British Summer Time 5 May15:38 BST 5 MayTrent Alexander-Arnold will take some replacing at Liverpool 4731Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 15:35 British Summer Time 5 May15:35 BST 5 May#bbcfootball It was clear to me for over a year Trent would be leaving so I’m surprised the confirmation took this long to be honest He should go down as a Liverpool legend and get a deserved send off While I wish him the best I don’t wish him success because it’s still Madrid at the end of the day 38049Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWill Alexander-Arnold sign for Real Madrid?published at 15:33 British Summer Time 5 May15:33 BST 5 MayAnd what of the the future 2717Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 15:30 British Summer Time 5 May15:30 BST 5 May#bbcfootball TAA has delivered some wonderful LFC moments but to leave on a free at a time when we’re stable and Real Madrid are not puts him in the Steve McManaman bracket as the game against a poor Manchester United team showed 32594Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingHow will Liverpool fans react?published at 15:29 British Summer Time 5 May15:29 BST 5 MayPhil McNultyBBC Sport chief football writer Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave Liverpool has deeper significance than most because he is the local boy made good "The Scouser In Our Team" as he was celebrated in song by The Kop Many Liverpool fans will accept his departure to Real Madrid as a fact of modern football life but others will be deeply hurt that someone with such strong ties to the club and city is leaving on a free transfer Anfield's reaction will certainly be interesting to observe in those final two home game against Arsenal then for the Premier League trophy lift against Crystal Palace on 25 May 4614Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 15:24 British Summer Time 5 May15:24 BST 5 May#bbcfootball 70690Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingMartim Fernandes - Portopublished at 15:22 British Summer Time 5 May15:22 BST 5 MayWho could replace Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool who has impressed many since breaking into the Porto first-team this season Fernandes has five assists to his name and at just 19 years of age is already a key creative cog in the side He enjoys playing on the front foot and much like Trent Alexander-Arnold He shows promising movement while underlapping or overlapping to hit the byline to cross 6710Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 15:18 British Summer Time 5 May15:18 BST 5 May#bbcfootball My three favourite Liverpool memories in chronological order: Rush’s third goal against Everton in the 1986 FA Cup final; Gerrard’s goal against AC Milan to make it 3-1 and start the comeback in the 2005 Champions League final; and Trent’s corner against Barcelona in the 2019 semi-final 40961Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingAnton Gaaei - Ajaxpublished at 15:16 British Summer Time 5 May15:16 BST 5 MayWho could replace Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool Anton Gaaei has progressed quickly to become the first-choice right-back at Ajax this season the young Dane is only in his second season in Dutch football so recruiting him would very much be a project signing for Liverpool 496Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 15:14 British Summer Time 5 May15:14 BST 5 MayThis has felt like a bit of a pile-on There has not been a lot of love expressed for the La Liga giants I wonder if there is anyone out there who supports the club and might be able to give a different slant on the kind of welcome and support Trent Alexander-Arnold could expect at the Bernabeu 2272Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 15:12 British Summer Time 5 May15:12 BST 5 May#bbcfootball Now is a good time to leave but Madrid is not the best place to go if you are looking to spread your wings the manager will not teach you anything and your team-mates will not care about you everyone will get shoved into a wood chipper Important to note that will be a metaphorical wood chipper 30948Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingGuela Doue - Strasbourgpublished at 15:07 British Summer Time 5 May15:07 BST 5 MayWho could replace Alexander-Arnold at Liverpool but is already making plenty of waves at Strasbourg The 22-year-old Ivory Coast international - brother of Paris St-Germain winger Desire Doue - is a right-back who is well capable of playing as a wide centre-back in a three or as a right wing-back 566Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingPostpublished at 15:03 British Summer Time 5 May15:03 BST 5 MayRight let's spend a bit of time assessing the right-backs available out there in Europe who could potentially attract interest from Liverpool this summer Football tactics writer Ninad Barbadikar has looked into this question for BBC Sport Here are some of the names he has highlighted.. 209Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 14:53 British Summer Time 5 May14:53 BST 5 May#bbcfootball Sami mentioned in his article that the prestige of becoming a Galactico is too much of a lure for Trent Mbappe now he’s found his scoring boots and Bellingham The president of the club promises to bring in the best players available Trent isn't arriving as a Galactico and I’m afraid I’ve sat with the home fans enough at the Santiago Bernabeu to know they aren’t very patient Bellingham shows cracks in his temperament when things aren’t perfect 18255Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingWill Liverpool miss Alexander-Arnold's assists?published at 14:50 British Summer Time 5 May14:50 BST 5 MayCraig NelsonBBC Sport reporter There is a chance that Arne Slot may switch focus when considering this problem looking for a full-back whose prime aim is to defend while also bolstering his starting XI with an attacking emphasis in other areas the Reds boss may look to bring in two new faces - a direct replacement for Trent Alexander-Arnold at right-back and a new creative force in midfield is that the way Liverpool attack has evolved under Slot with less emphasis on raids from his full-backs than there has been in the past under Jurgen Klopp The assists in the team have been spread more widely across different areas while Mohamed Salah has continued a trend that has seen him surge past Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool's leading creative force as well as maintaining his role as their top goalscorer Liverpool's leading players for assists in the Premier League over the past six seasons: 6924Shareclose panelShare pageCopy linkAbout sharingget involvedGet Involvedpublished at 14:44 British Summer Time 5 May14:44 BST 5 May#bbcfootball Conor Bradley is an incredible back-up to Trent What is it with the Irish Liverpool players being the best back-ups I think Bradley can do a job but they do need to sign a main right-back for at least a few years Jeremie Frimpong would be a great suggestion as he’s quick The BBC is not responsible for any changes that may be made Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player As Trent Alexander-Arnold announces he is leaving Liverpool this summer The Scout highlights the right-back’s incredible numbers from his nine seasons in Fantasy Premier League Trent Alexander-Arnold (£7.2m) broke new ground for defenders in Fantasy Premier League Across his 257 appearances for Liverpool he has amassed 1,278 points providing 73 assists and keeping 96 clean sheets so far Those performances have seen him rewarded with 170 bonus points He holds the record of being the only defender to surpass 200 points in two separate seasons doing so first in 2019/20 and again in 2021/22 he's made five successive appearances in the end-of-season Dream Team *appearance in end-of-season Dream Team**three matches left to play Should Alexander-Arnold remain No 1 in the defender standings this season he will become the first player to finish as the top-scoring defender three times He would also equal John Terry's accomplishment of featuring in the end-of-season Dream Team on a total of six occasions Alexander-Arnold set Fantasy managers back £8.6m a price he reached in Gameweek 24 of last season Not since 2005/06 has a defender cost as much He announced himself to Fantasy managers in Gameweek 20 of 2017/18 with the first of his 38 double-figure hauls, a 14-point return in a 5-0 win at home to Swansea City More than 2.1million managers will have fond memories of his best-ever Gameweek score of 24 points in Liverpool's 4-0 win away to Leicester City in 2019/20 His creativity sets him apart from his contemporaries Alexander-Arnold has had four seasons in which he's supplied at least 10 assists in FPL one campaign more than his team-mate Andy Robertson (£5.8m) Alexander-Arnold has racked up 91 attacking returns in Fantasy At his most-popular Alexander-Arnold was found in 60.1 per cent of teams he would be bought by more than 872,000 for Double Gameweek 25 his largest number of transfers for a Gameweek He rewarded his new owners with back-to-back clean sheets and a 13-point return Alexander-Arnold ranks as Liverpool's most-successful defender in Fantasy having produced a return in 138 matches gaining eight points more than Reds legend Jamie Carragher across his career Football writer Adrian Clarke compares Conor Bradley with the player he could replace as Liverpool's first-choice right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold's announcement that he will leave Liverpool this summer has reopened the question as to whether the club have a ready-made replacement in Conor Bradley Bradley did replace Alexander-Arnold for the final half-hour of Sunday's 3-1 defeat at Chelsea Liverpool's first match since being confirmed as Premier League champions but whether he can do it every week from next season is up for consideration here The outstanding quality shown by Alexander-Arnold since emerging from the Liverpool Academy to make his debut in 2016 marks him down as one of the best it feels a little unfair on 21-year-old Bradley to draw firm parallels As far as this season has been concerned though the Northern Irishman has shown a little more attacking dynamism than his vastly experienced team-mate Bradley has displayed plenty of ambition and attacking zest and is perhaps more comfortable at running with the ball at his feet That drive has taken Bradley into the opposition penalty area with far greater frequency than Alexander-Arnold averaging six touches in that domain per 90 minutes This is way in advance of the England international A prime example of what Bradley brings to the side was seen when he produced his first assist of the campaign for Luis Diaz away to Fulham to demand a pass that freed him up in space down the centre of the pitch carrying the ball to the edge of the box before slipping Diaz in for a shot on goal It was a quality piece of play that marks him out as being different in style to Alexander-Arnold a player who tends to hurt rival teams more with his brilliant passing Liverpool head coach Arne Slot has been less inclined than predecessor Jurgen Klopp to ask Alexander-Arnold to take up central midfield positions But it is the younger man who powers on up the pitch with a lot more regularity when you analyse the Englishman’s heat map and compare it with Bradley’s below Trent is more inclined to drift further infield and he does more defensive work inside his own box than Bradley When it comes to whipping dangerous crosses into the box opening up the opposition with an incisive pass or switching the point of attack with a raking long ball there is no one to compare with Alexander-Arnold he is arguably the world’s best right-back His creative numbers compared to those of Bradley who has played around a quarter of the minutes this season when Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool this summer there is no real possibility that Bradley can step in and replicate exactly the same output from right-back A change of style and expectancy would be required from Liverpool’s right-back in 2025/26 This shot and assist graphic signifies what the Reds would be losing in Alexander-Arnold: Alexander-Arnold’s defending has often been unfairly criticised and he has undoubtedly made good strides in that aspect of his play Yet the raw statistics do still tell us that when it comes to duels it is Bradley who offers a touch more reliability and strength The Northern Ireland international wins a greater number of 50-50s and is especially good at pressurising opponents when they have the ball at their feet He will close players down with a lot of enthusiasm In 1v1s it is also the less experienced player who proves tougher to beat with a dribble Alexander-Arnold's many outstanding contributions as a super-creative full-back will live long in the memory of Liverpool’s supporters Given he has helped the club to win eight trophies including this season's Premier League title he should be remembered as an Anfield legend his place in Liverpool’s folklore is assured Yet the 21-year-old does still have plenty to offer even if it means Slot’s Liverpool will have to compensate in other areas of the pitch for Alexander-Arnold's now-confirmed departure US EditionUK EditionScottish SunIrish SunSearchMy Account Published: Invalid Date Trent Alexander-Arnold will be forced to move on from his iconic No.66 after completing his switch to Real Madrid The Liverpool defender announced on Monday that he will depart his boyhood club after 20 years at the end of the season He is now expected to join Real Madrid and talkSPORT understands that he will sign a five-year contract with the Spanish giants However, as huge of a move as it is for Alexander-Arnold it will force him into a change he may not have wanted to make The right-back is going to have to switch from the No.66 shirt which he has worn for his entire professional career It has become an iconic Liverpool strip over the years, with Alexander-Arnold starring while winning two Premier League titles and a Champions League wearing the digits But it's still going to be tough for him to switch from 66 - and he has no choice when he begins to play in LaLiga. LaLiga rules state that all players must wear a number between 1-25. That matches up to the maximum squad size of players registered during a domestic campaign. that means Alexander-Arnold's 66 is well out of the parameters It's a rule that has seen Barcelona unable to retire the No.10 shirt for Lionel Messi and Real not allowed to retire No.7 for Cristiano Ronaldo The strictness surrounding those numbers having to be used and available for the 25 registered squad players will see Alexander-Arnold have no choice On top of that rule, Real Madrid also seem to have a club-specific condition made by president Florentino Perez And that could well have been what forced Jude Bellingham to move from his No.22 to No.5 at Los Blancos Real legend Zinedine Zidane revealed that Perez doesn't like players wearing high numbers and that he prefers 1-11 on the pitch Zidane said: “I picked the number five shirt because he [Perez] didn’t want me to have 25 this is American football’ so in the end I got five." even if LaLiga rules allowed the use of No.66 in the league Alexander-Arnold would have likely been asked to change anyways questions will arise over what number he could change to Alexander-Arnold won't be able to have the No.2, that's at least until Dani Carvajal departs the only available shirts at Real are No.12 After announcing his departure from Anfield Alexander-Arnold now has just three games left as a Red His final game for the club will be at home to Crystal Palace on May 25 before he potentially heads straight to Real Madrid That would see Alexander-Arnold make his Real debut on June 18 Marvel at some of Trent Alexander-Arnold's best UEFA Champions League passes while playing for Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he is leaving Liverpool and with a Real Madrid agreement now in place a top source has revealed the reasoning behind the switch Football’s worst kept secret is now out in the open, with Alexander-Arnold confirming his time at Liverpool will conclude this summer The right-back broke the news on his social media accounts, while trusted journalists, Paul Joyce, David Ornstein and Fabrizio Romano all stated his future lays with Real Madrid Taking to X, Romano wrote: “BREAKING: Trent Alexander-Arnold to Real Madrid “Decision to leave Liverpool now confirmed as Trent says goodbye to the club after winning one more PL title “Documents being prepared for Trent to join Real Madrid on a 5 year contract Ornstein stated: “Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool when his contract expires this summer “Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent with sources in Spain — speaking anonymously to protect relationships — suggesting a proposed six-year agreement to join the La Liga side has now entered its final stages and is on course to be signed in the coming weeks.” But it was The Times’ Paul Joyce who offered perhaps the most intriguing angle on the tale when clarifying why Alexander-Arnold is leaving… Alexander-Arnold can win the biggest prizes in the game at Anfield and if staying could have gone on to book his place as one of Liverpool’s all-time greats Joyce stated the one thing Alexander-Arnold craves is the one thing Liverpool cannot offer – a new challenge Joyce wrote: “Alexander-Arnold is not departing because he has fallen out of love with the club he joined at the age of six or because he believes they will not continue to be successful under the head coach Arne Slot he would like to go back to Anfield and watch as a supporter he simply wants to try something totally new and fresh That is the one thing Liverpool could not offer “In his family’s executive box at Anfield there is a chart on the wall that chronicles Alexander-Arnold’s progress while also providing a nod and a wink to his shirt number “Under the heading “Route 66” it shows milestones ranging from his first session at the club’s academy to captaining the Under-16s a first goal through to being nominated for the Ballon d’Or There are 38 landmarks in total and that only takes him through to December 2020 “By the age of 23 years and 219 days Alexander-Arnold had done it all with Liverpool The youngest player at an English club ever to complete that set “Slot has challenged him since succeeding Jürgen Klopp trying to make him better defensively and refining his role He has ensured the managerial transition has been successful and there would be goals to achieve next term it would essentially be about conquering what has come to feel familiar Walking into a different dressing room and having to prove himself again to a set of teammates and coaches Forget about the friendship with his England team-mate Jude Bellingham being a deciding factor.” Digital Sports ReporterPublished: Invalid Date LIVERPOOL have issued a blunt statement after Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed he would be leaving the club after 20 years Alexander-Arnold, 26, broke through the Reds' Academy into the first team under Jurgen Klopp and emerged into one of the best right-backs in world football His exploits helped Liverpool land two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup However, in an emotional statement, the defender announced he would be leaving Liverpool when his contract expires this summer The Englishman, who is expected to be heading to Real Madrid on a free transfer after agreeing a five-year deal worth £240,000 a week called it "easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life" Liverpool made a statement of their own following the news "The 26-year-old will bring his two-decade-long association with the Reds to an end having made the decision to depart Anfield once his deal ceases on June 30, 2025... "Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool’s Academy at the age of six and progressed through the ranks at youth level before making his senior debut in 2016. "He has gone on to make 352 appearances for the Reds to date, scoring 23 goals and lifting eight major honours, including this season’s Premier League title... "Alexander-Arnold will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success." The club added a statement from Alexander-Arnold in the announcement Alexander-Arnold said: "I think first and foremost I want to say it’s not an easy decision and there’s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a new change a new challenge for me as a player and as a person "And I think now is the right time for me to do that." he continued: "There’s a lot I would like to say "You guys have been there from the start with me "I hope they have felt that has been reciprocated and that I’ve given everything I could to the club It has been amazing to be part of it and I just hope that everyone is able to maybe not dwell on this news for too long and be able to celebrate what the rest of the lads have done." Slot is said to have expressed his disappointment but respected the decision telling him: "You’re a huge part of this team and let’s end it on a high together." Alexander-Arnold then replied: "My mindset and commitment won’t change I’ll continue to give everything for this club until the final day." The report adds how fractures began appearing last season when he was left unsettled by fresh contract talks only starting in April He said to have understood the circumstances of why this was the case due to new sporting director Richard Hughes only just starting his role but privately wondered if the 2024/25 season would be his final one at Anfield Hughes' first call in the job was to Alexander-Arnold's camp before subsequent offers would have made the defender the best-paid defender in the Premier League But ultimately, his exit appeared to help pave the way for the club to sign new and improved deals with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, with the pair now reportedly earning £400,000-per-week each In a separate statement directly on social media Alexander-Arnold said: "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club "This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life "I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests, which was securing No.20. "This club has been my whole life – my whole world - for 20 years "From the Academy right through until now "I’ve given my all every single day I’ve been at this club the staff and our incredible supporters - for the last 20 years "I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never "My love for this club will never die." Alexander-Arnold's expected move to Real Madrid in the summer could happen BEFORE the Club World Cup, though this would mean the Spanish side need to fork out a transfer fee to secure his services in time for the Fifa competition being held in the United States He will be joining fellow England international and close friend Jude Bellingham in Madrid after he joined the club for £115million in July 2023 TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD looks set to join Real Madrid this summer and will join an exclusive club to pull on the famous white jersey So had did those who came before him get on Real Madrid splashed out £950,000 to sign Cunningham from West Brom in 1979 As one of the "Three Degrees" alongside Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson Cunningham had left an unforgettable mark at the Hawthorns The left winger became an instant hit in the Spanish capital Cunningham helped his side to the LaLiga title in 1980 and played in the European Cup final against Liverpool the following year Following a loan spell with Manchester United Cunningham returned to Madrid with Rayo Vallecano in 1988 The following year he tragically died in a car crash in the city aged just 33 McManaman left boyhood club Liverpool for the bright lights of Madrid in 1999 The Bernabeu crowd immediately took to their new English hero McManaman helped Real win six trophies in four years and scored his side's second goal in their victorious 2000 Champions League final spending the final two years of his career with Manchester City McManaman worked as a pundit for Setanta Sports he can regularly be seen on TNT Sports' football coverage especially when Liverpool or Real Madrid are playing Real Madrid made Manchester United superstar Beckham their latest Galactico Golden Balls joined a squad boasting the likes of Ronaldo Zinedine Zidane and Roberto Carlos in the Spanish capital Despite his love for high-end fashion and the celebrity lifestyle Beckham became much beloved in Spain for his incredible work rate the fabled La Decima - a tenth Champions League triumph - eluded Real Madrid during his four-year stint winning the LaLiga title in 2007 before leaving for LA Galaxy Since Beckham hung up his boots in 2013 he has continued to have several endorsement deals; including the likes of Adidas and played a big role in their groundbreaking deal for Lionel Messi in 2023 But the former Ballon d'Or winner endured a frustrating season at the Bernabeu finding himself stuck behind Ronaldo and Raul Twelve months on from Owen's £8million switch Real Madrid doubled their money by flogging him to Newcastle Owen then spent three years with Liverpool's rivals Man Utd Owen signed up to be BT Sport's primary co-commentator upon the channel's launch the former striker has enjoyed several other ventures while he also appeared on The Masked Singer Woodgate endured one of the most infamous debuts of all time after switching Newcastle for Real Madrid in 2004 The luckless defender went through injury hell following the £13.4m transfer having to wait 17 months before playing his first game the England international headed into his own net Things then got even worse when he was sent off just after the hour mark before a loan move to Middlesbrough effectively ended his Real Madrid career Woody earned a move to Tottenham in January 2008 He won the League Cup barely a month later and remains the last Spurs player to score a winning goal in a cup final Following spells with Stoke and back at Middlesbrough returned to Middlesbrough once again in 2022 where he works as a first team coach under Michael Carrick England superstar Bellingham sealed a blockbuster £115m transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023 with the midfielder immediately excelling in Spain and went on net five times in his first four LaLiga matches The image of the 21-year-old with his arms outstretched has quickly become an iconic one Birmingham's finest has already won LaLiga and the Champions League during his young career And with Alexander-Arnold soon to be alongside him Bellingham will feel that he can add plenty more to his already impressive trophy tally Our journalists strive for accuracy but on occasion we make mistakes. For further details of our complaints policy and to make a complaint please click this link: thesun.co.uk/editorial-complaints/ Trent Alexander-Arnold will leave Liverpool when his contract expires this summer the club and England international have confirmed Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent to join the Spanish side has now entered its final stages and is on course to be signed in the coming weeks Alexander-Arnold will finish a journey that began aged six by lifting the Premier League title for a second time adding it to a collection of trophies that includes the 2019 Champions League I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this… pic.twitter.com/emAw5RvXq0 — Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) May 5, 2025 achieved everything I’ve ever wanted to here,” he told Liverpool’s official website And I think now is the right time for me to do that.” “There’s a lot I would like to say,” he said of Liverpool fans You guys have been there from the start with me With his contract entering its final six months Alexander-Arnold has been able to negotiate with Madrid Liverpool rejected an approach from Madrid to sign Alexander-Arnold in January in December, choosing instead to prioritise their pursuit of the Premier League and Champions League titles over receiving a transfer fee The Athletic reported in October that Madrid had made Alexander-Arnold a priority target with the defender saying the previous month a desire to win trophies would be the biggest factor in deciding his future “The most important thing is trophies if I’m honest,” Alexander-Arnold told reporters I’m a player who is highly motivated by winning things and being elite That’s probably the main factor of anything who wants to win and will do anything to win then that’s what drives them.” Resolving Alexander-Arnold’s long-term future has been one of the primary objectives for new sporting director Richard Hughes with the right-back among three crucial players — alongside Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk — whose existing Liverpool terms were scheduled to expire in the summer On April 11, Liverpool announced that Salah had signed a new contract which runs until June 2027, while Van Dijk committed his own future to the club a week later with a two-year extension. Alexander-Arnold has made 352 Liverpool appearances He played an integral role in ending Liverpool’s wait for a first Premier League title in 2019-20 and won the PFA young player of the year award for his performances that season Alexander-Arnold has won the Champions League FA Cup and Carabao Cup (twice) during his 19 years the club He was named vice-captain by former manager Jurgen Klopp following the departure of Jordan Henderson Dani Carvajal has been Madrid’s first-choice right-back with the versatile Lucas Vazquez often deputising in the position Carvajal sustained an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury earlier this season and subsequently signed a one-year contract extension until June 2026 while Vazquez’s terms expire at the end of this campaign At Madrid, Alexander-Arnold is set to join England team-mate and close friend Jude Bellingham and follow in the footsteps of Steve McManaman and Michael Owen in swapping Anfield for the Santiago Bernabeu A free transfer in July 2025 comes a year after Madrid executed a similar deal to sign Kylian Mbappe following the expiry of his contract at Paris Saint-Germain They have also had success with other out-of-contract acquisitions in Antonio Rudiger and David Alaba in recent years Alexander-Arnold has made 42 appearances for Liverpool this season despite missing four games in March and April with an ankle injury Trent Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season will cut deep at Anfield they are losing arguably the most dynamic right-back in European football They will miss his creative spark and remarkable range of passing His tally of 64 assists is the most by a defender in Premier League history But Liverpool will be waving goodbye to much more than that His bond with the club goes back to when he first joined the academy at the age of six It’s been some ride over the past 20 years as he lived the dream and helped Liverpool win the biggest prizes He has developed into a leader in the dressing room and had previously spoken about wanting to wear the captain’s armband on a permanent basis So too the attraction of experiencing a different way of life and playing alongside his close friend But unlike Steve McManaman and Michael Owen before him he can’t claim that he’s heading to the Spanish capital to satisfy a thirst for silverware given Liverpool’s form since Arne Slot took over as head coach Losing Alexander-Arnold isn’t a good look for Liverpool’s owners given that a £100million asset will be walking away for nothing It should have been sorted long before this season his best years remain ahead of him and the fact that they won’t be spent on the red side of Merseyside is a bitter pill to swallow By Real Madrid correspondent Guillermo Rai While Madrid have pursued ‘generational talents’ in recent seasons Prospects such as Leny Yoro and Endrick were so highly rated that the Madrid board was convinced to take a bet on them This is not the case with Alexander-Arnold and is vastly experienced in elite football As his contract expires this summer and he is free to leave Alexander-Arnold’s case was conceived more as a market opportunity for Madrid — similar to a player like Antonio Rudiger who departed Bayern Munich on a free transfer the previous year Alexander-Arnold will reinforce a position in which Madrid had not signed anyone since 2019 while Carvajal is facing months on the sidelines after suffering that ACL injury in October All of this has forced a change of plan and signing the Liverpool full-back has been prioritised Madrid’s coaching staff consider him to be a first-class player not only as a defender but also for his ability to move into midfield and to deliver from set pieces After the club’s great experience with Bellingham who has a long-standing friendship with Alexander-Arnold Madrid once again feel they are gambling smartly on an English star Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced he is leaving Liverpool when his contract expires this summer to embark on a "new challenge" Alexander-Arnold has developed into one of the best right-backs the Premier League has ever seen a FIFA Club World Cup and a UEFA Super Cup The 26-year-old holds the record for most Premier League assists by a defender while he is only three behind Leighton Baines' record total of 85 combined goals and assists by a defender Mohamed Salah and Son Heung-min - have produced more assists than Alexander-Arnold's 64 He will go down as a Premier League great and without doubt one of the best full-backs the competition has ever seen Would you rather have Alexander-Arnold in your team than Hall of Famer Ashley Cole How about eight-time Premier League champion Gary Neville You can vote below for who you think is the best Premier League full-back of all time You can also click here on each player's profile page to see their achievements Trent Alexander-Arnold was willing to sign a contract extension at Anfield with a trusted reporter detailing the crippling misstep Liverpool made Alexander-Arnold is heading to Real Madrid with the right-back confirming on Monday morning that he’s leaving his boyhood club Fabrizio Romano gave a switch to the Bernabeu his signature “here we go” confirmation while Paul Joyce and David Ornstein have both pointed towards the Spanish capital When providing greater context on the move, The Times’ Paul Joyce – widely regarded as the No 1 journalist on all matters Liverpool – revealed why the right-back is leaving Joyce claimed Alexander-Arnold was seeking the one thing Liverpool cannot offer – a fresh challenge in football the reporter also claimed there was a time when Alexander-Arnold would have gladly put pen to paper on an extension the club failed to strike when the iron was hot and the end result is they’ll now lose a highly saleable asset for nothing Joyce wrote: ‘The safe option [for Alexander-Arnold] would have been to sign another deal at Liverpool (although an unmotivated player on a long deal would have become a problem) and there was a time when Alexander-Arnold did not envisage anything else ‘The 2022-23 campaign had proved a difficult one for him although he felt revitalised by the hybrid role Klopp had asked him to perform when shifting from right back into midfield and conducting the play ‘All of Liverpool’s previous contract dealings with Alexander-Arnold indicated they would have come to the negotiating table that summer when he had two years left and the background noise about Real Madrid’s interest was already audible ‘Perhaps they wanted to see whether his form could be maintained but there was not the same intent from the club ‘A delay can also be explained by the fact it coincided with a period of unprecedented flux behind the scenes ‘Julian Ward stood down just a year after succeeding Michael Edwards as sporting director the president of Fenway Sports Group (FSG) and soon into the new campaign Klopp doubted whether he had the appetite to continue Klopp privately informed Gordon in November 2023 he would be leaving at the end of that season and appointing a new hierarchy became the priority The appointment of Richard Hughes as sporting director accelerated discussions his very first call was to Alexander-Arnold’s representatives in April 2024 and a formal offer was presented that month after Slot’s appointment ‘Hughes inherited what one colleague described as a “s!@* sandwich” but is understood to have handled the situation impressively There has been no animosity at the prospect of a valuable asset leaving for nothing ‘If the argument can be made that Liverpool were slow to talk terms then there has been a sense in recent months that whatever was presented would not have been enough to entice the player to stay.’ Real Madrid had originally hoped to bring Alexander-Arnold on board in time to feature in the Club World Cup The revamped and expanded tournament gets underway on June 14 and the entirety of Real’s group phase campaign takes place in June That posed a problem for Los Blancos given Alexander-Arnold’s contract doesn’t expire until June 30 There has been talk of Real Madrid being willing to pay a small transfer fee However, David Ornstein claimed Alexander-Arnold’s contract is set to be valid from July meaning he would not be signed and registered in time to feature in the group stage ⭐️ Trent Alexander-Arnold done deal: The best free-agent signings Real Madrid have ever made ⭐️ Trent Alexander-Arnold: Nine Liverpool replacement options as Real Madrid move confirmed ⭐️ Trent Alexander-Arnold done deal: The last 10 players Real Madrid convinced to leave their local team The Trent Alexander-Arnold saga is finally over. He’s just confirmed that he’ll be departing Liverpool at the end of the 2024-25 campaign when his current deal expires Alexander-Arnold will wave goodbye to his boyhood club having won a second Premier League title to go with his Champions League He’s notched 23 goals and 92 assists in 352 appearances for the Reds We’ve identified five potential options that Liverpool can target to replace Alexander-Arnold this summer This is the one attracting the most tabloid gossip The Manchester City academy graduate has developed into a brilliant footballer one of the standout superstars of Xabi Alonso’s Invincible Bundesliga champions last term He notched nine goals and seven assists as Bayer Leverkusen ended Bayern’s era of domestic dominance The one question mark is whether he’d be quite as impressive as a traditional full-back outside of Alonso’s system in which he operated more like a flying winger Watching Inter and Barcelona’s madcap Champions League semi-final the other night we were left with the feeling that people will be talking about Lamine Yamal’s performance for years to come But who was named UEFA’s Man of the Match that evening The Netherlands international set up Marcus Thuram’s inspired opener after just 30 seconds before demonstrating his set-piece prowess by scoring their second and third Dumfries would offer experience and serious he’d also be the right kind of profile that doesn’t completely block Conor Bradley’s opportunities and pathway into the first team What might be best for Liverpool is bringing in a proven dependable player that can serve for two or three seasons while Bradley continues to learn the ropes and shake off his injury niggles The Inter full-back would fit the bill on that front We’re not entirely sure about this one given Tottenham’s struggles this season But according to FBref‘s complex statistical algorithm the Spain international is the closest right-back in terms of profile to Alexander-Arnold across European football over the past 365 days and actually has as many Premier League assists (six) as Liverpool’s homegrown hero this season There are similar question marks over his defending but Liverpool haven’t done too badly with Alexander-Arnold in recent times gone by Put Porro in a more functional team and he might just thrive The fact that Manchester City have been seriously linked tells you there’s a player there we’re (obviously) completely aware that De Bruyne is not a right-back You’ve seen that famous ‘Moneyball’ scene you’re still trying to replace Giambi,” says Billy Beane played by Brad Pitt in the glossy Hollywood adaptation what we might be able to do is re-create him but more importantly there’s a void of creativity to fill Alexander-Arnold is one of the most prolific assisters in the Premier League in recent years They’re not going to find another full-back with his passing range De Bruyne might be the only player with a more impressive playmaking highlights reel in the Premier League over the last 10 years Says he “still has a lot to give” and is open to remaining in the Premier League His kids go to the same school as Virgil van Dijk’s and his family could remain settled where they are Alexander Arnold’s departure leaves some wiggle room when it comes to wages and Liverpool could probably do with more depth in midfield as things are A two-year deal would make a weird amount of sense READ: De Bruyne to Liverpool!? 6 Premier League transfers that messed with our head This one wouldn’t get the blood pumping among the kind of modern-day fanatics who spent their summer refreshing Fabrizio Romano’s Twitter feed The 28-year-old has been among the Premier League’s best right-backs this season one of Nottingham Forest’s most reliable individuals as they punch above well their weight to challenge for Champions League qualification Aina would by no means elevate Slot’s first team but he’d be the kind of unglamorous but solid addition that are the unheralded backbone of successful squads required to compete on multiple fronts although there are suggestions Forest hold a one-year extension option so scrimping on a right-back might not be the worst idea Southampton’s Kyle Walker-Peters is also out of contract at the end of the season and would offer an alternative option if Liverpool are looking to bulk out their Slot’s squad while promoting Bradley to a more prominent place in the pecking order READ NEXT: The 11 most valuable full-backs in world football: Alexander-Arnold tops the list… TRY A QUIZ: Can you name the 20 defenders with the most assists in Premier League history? The 6 managers Cristiano Ronaldo scored fewer than 10 goals under: Ten Hag 5 top footballers we can’t believe are still awaiting their first major honour 9 footballers who refused to celebrate after scoring against their former club 6 of the most infamous guards of honour in football history: Chelsea 7 free agents we’d love to see in the Baller League UK A combined XI from promoted & relegated clubs that could achieve Premier League survival The clubs with the most league titles in world football: Celtic SEO and Live Blogs WriterPublished: Invalid Date Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed that after 20 years at Liverpool He is now expected to announce his next club is Real Madrid, where talkSPORT understands he will sign a five-year contract and he will move to the Spanish capital once it ends there is still a way the Reds could pocket a transfer fee Real Madrid are set to play in the Club World Cup, starting in June, and if they want Alexander-Arnold to be involved, they would need to agree a fee with Liverpool the Englishman will officially still be under contract at Liverpool A report in The Sun suggests that Liverpool are looking for Los Blancos to pay them €1 million, which is around £850,000, to let Alexander-Arnold leave two weeks before the expiry of his contract. talkSPORT's Ben Jacobs understands that Real are willing to offer around £500,000 to get the deal done, so some negotiation is going to be required. If Real Madrid and Liverpool agree a deal on compensation, it's possible Alexander-Arnold will make his debut in just over a month. that might be the first time we see Alexander Arnold in a Real Madrid shirt after 20 years with his boyhood club Should the two teams fail to reach an agreement Alexander-Arnold would have to wait until after the Club World Cup to make his debut and it would probably be in pre-season later this year Alexander-Arnold confirmed he was leaving Liverpool he said: "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club "I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet My love for this club will never die." ByIbrahim MustaphaUpdated 05/05/2025 at 15:07 GMT+1 Slot: 'I expected Chelsea to be a threat' for the Premier League title 'The pass makes the goal' - Glorious Trent assist sets up Gakpo's second Alexander-Arnold grabs Liverpool equaliser with 'a little bit of luck' AdvertisementHow was your experience today By LEWIS STEELE IN the shadows of Anfield on the corner of Sybil Road, there are 13 words etched on to a street-art mural with a painting of Trent Alexander-Arnold in his No 66 shirt ‘I’m just a normal lad from Liverpool whose dream has just come true,’ it reads there are kids posing for pictures in front of it They are most probably being inspired by this local lad who had a dream and made it a reality by breaking through and winning trophies at his boyhood club Thousands of those youngsters will have thought that one day Alexander-Arnold is the man who lives out their childhood ambitions of playing for Liverpool those aforementioned dreams are just not enough any more He outlived them, wants a new challenge and sees Real Madrid as the place to achieve his new dreams His future is not lifting trophies at his beloved Liverpool but testing himself in the Spanish capital Trent Alexander-Arnold will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season Real Madrid star Jude Bellingham tactfully avoided questions about his friend in November but his response indicated the direction of travel The Scouser ends his 20-year association with the club having won two Premier League titles and a Champions League among other prizes this was the worst-kept secret in football (second is that his new boss will not be current Real Madrid gaffer Carlo Ancelotti but former Reds icon Xabi Alonso) The outcome had been in the works for months and you did not need to be a qualified body-language expert to work out where the saga was heading set in the bowels of Anfield on a November evening but more the facial expressions of his good pal and soon-to-be club team-mate Jude Bellingham The England superstar was talking in the media room to preview Real Madrid’s visit to Liverpool – the Premier League champions recorded an emphatic 2-0 win by the way – and Bellingham was asked for his thoughts on Alexander-Arnold’s future then looked down at the table to compose himself before giving a media-trained answer: ‘I’ll be playing alongside him next year… for England He’s a Liverpool player and it would be disrespectful to talk about (a move) You could tell in his eye that Bellingham knew the direction of travel then Liverpool still had hope that they would extend Alexander-Arnold’s deal at Anfield sporting director Richard Hughes initiated contact before he had officially moved from Bournemouth to Liverpool last summer The Glaswegian transfer guru’s very first phone call in the job was to Alexander-Arnold’s representatives but that call 14 months ago was probably too late His decision to leave was not set in stone but the seeds of doubt about his future were blooming apace in the player’s mind Alexander-Arnold lapped up the acclaim of the Anfield crowd when the Reds were confirmed as Premier League champions last week Reds fans have clung to hopes of a late U-turn by the 26-year-old full back  A leadership issue saw Liverpool plough through sporting directors — Hughes was the third to be appointed since 2022 after Julian Ward and a short stay for Jorg Schmadtke — and it meant initial talks over a new deal started later than all parties may have liked Jurgen Klopp pulled him to one side in Singapore in summer 2023 to tell him he was being made vice-captain but due to a busy transfer window the idea of extending Alexander-Arnold’s deal was somewhat stalled Hughes cannot be blamed for the fact the England international is leaving The Liverpool hierarchy is said to be satisfied they did all in their power to tempt him to stay including a big-money offer that would have made him the best-paid full back in the country But despite cordial negotiations it soon became clear that Alexander-Arnold saw his future elsewhere and formal discussions were halted in March of this year when the player requested a face-to-face meeting with Arne Slot at the club’s Kirkby HQ He told him that he was planning to leave and that the decision was nothing against Slot or the current regime just that he wanted to challenge himself elsewhere The Dutch boss was understandably disappointed but reacted well Other managers may have seen the red mist descend and took action against the wantaway star – by not picking him for the XI for example – but all parties came together and concluded they still had a common goal to win the Premier League The fact the news is now public will not change this either and Alexander-Arnold remains a key part of the team in the last three games though his heir Conor Bradley is pushing for a start on Sunday against Arsenal Whether they sign a new right back or not remains to be seen Real Madrid could not legally enter into talks until January 1 and sources insist this was the case but the Spanish champions must have had some sort of encouragement before then given they made an unsolicited approach to sign him early in the January transfer window Reports suggesting he wanted the same sky-high salaries as Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk are said to be wildly wide of the mark His England colleague Bellingham has played a role in tempting him to the LaLiga giants Alexander-Arnold will have three more matches in Liverpool red before he waves goodbye to the Anfield faithful That approach came on December 30 and was swiftly rejected by Liverpool Alexander-Arnold was on a short getaway in Venice at the time and was unaware of it until a few minutes before it became common news at 5pm on New Year’s Eve Mail Sport was the first English newspaper to report that Real Madrid were confident and starting to plan for life with Alexander-Arnold Sources in Spain say that local media were briefed in February that he would sign but to keep it a secret out of respect Liverpool fans clung on to hope that a U-turn could occur but all the noise was that it was a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’ Alexander-Arnold was pulling on the famous white jersey of Real Madrid and doing kick-ups at his Santiago Bernabeu unveiling So why and how did he reach the decision to leave His decision was never driven by money and both parties were realistic on this Alexander-Arnold did not like the comparisons to Michael Owen and Steve McManaman who both left Liverpool for Real Madrid two decades ago as his situation is different: he has won everything there is to win at Liverpool whereas those two had to leave to chase trophies He spent time weighing up the pros and cons of an exit and saw the fact he was next in line for the Reds captaincy as the pinnacle for a local lad But the allure of Real Madrid was just too much To use his good mate Jude Bellingham’s words: ‘When Real Madrid comes knocking It is hard not to open it and to accept it.’ To stick on that analogy Florentino Perez came to the door and Alexander-Arnold invited him in for a cuppa Speaking to Mail Sport earlier in the year Owen explained to us: ‘I had the opportunity to do what Trent's doing (leave Liverpool for Madrid) I chose that because I thought that'd be an amazing experience ‘You lose a little bit of control after that you're out there and if you're doing well or not doing well then you're not that attached and ingrained to a club like you used to be the positives of going to Real Madrid are there for all to see ‘Playing with one of the biggest teams in the world or probably the biggest team in the world could be quite tempting.’ The lifestyle change is up there with his primary reasons but the main one is to embark on a new challenge in his professional capacity He has vocalised his desire to win personal accolades such as the Ballon d’Or and playing at Real Madrid gives a good platform to do that There is also the celebrity aspect and he is often doing fashion shoots that appear on billboards in cities like Milan and he is an investor in Formula One team Alpine and is a regular in the Grand Prix paddocks He also pocketed £26million for his adidas boot deal signed in late 2023 and the German sportswear giants see him as one of their faces of European football played a role in tempting him to the Bernabeu The pair were pictured on rollercoasters together last summer – with Alexander-Arnold signing autographs for a young Real fan – and surely the topic came up But now the worst-kept secret in football is out Alexander-Arnold will be the latest Galactico signing for Real Madrid and Anfield will have to wave adios to the Scouse heartbeat of their team – whether they like it or not The comments below have not been moderated By posting your comment you agree to our house rules Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically 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Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Chief football writerPublished5 May 20252511 CommentsTrent Alexander-Arnold's announcement that he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season confirmed what had seemed an inevitability for months And even though his next destination was not mentioned in his emotional farewell video it is an open secret that he will join his friend and England colleague Jude Bellingham at Real Madrid Alexander-Arnold deserves credit for clarifying his future now He could have taken the easy way out and left Liverpool supporters hanging until after the Premier League title victory parade around the city on 26 May the 26-year-old has made his decision public with two home games left - the first against Arsenal and the second on the final day against Crystal Palace when Liverpool will lift the trophy to celebrate their 20th English league title It will leave him at the mercies of many Liverpool supporters who are baffled that the player they celebrate in song as "the Scouser in our team" has decided to leave his boyhood club on a free transfer Alexander-Arnold's celebration of his late winner at Leicester City in April when he ripped off his red shirt and hoisted it on a corner flag in front of Liverpool's supporters at the King Power Stadium prompted faint hope that he might find it impossible to leave the club he has called home for 20 years The truth hit home when he once more refused to discuss his future during the celebrations of that win He was leaving Liverpool and no amount of emotional pull on the heartstrings would change his mind Those emotions will be mixed in the stands and on the pitch when Alexander-Arnold plays his final game at Anfield on 25 May – but his leaving as a title winner might just ease the disappointment that many Liverpool followers will be feeling Liverpool's fans have also have also been questioning the timing of Alexander-Arnold's decision He leaves with Liverpool on a title high and well placed to challenge for the biggest domestic and European trophies for years to come while Real Madrid looked like a team in need of renewal when they were thrashed 5-1 by Arsenal over two legs in the Champions League quarter-final Alexander-Arnold enjoyed a dream return from injury netting the winner against Leicester in April It will also be a time of churn off the pitch at the Bernabeu with legendary coach Carlo Ancelotti expected to leave at the end of the season Why leave the stability and success of Liverpool for a time of transition at Real Madrid The lure of Real Madrid is almost always irresistible Bellingham was being courted by every major club in Europe before deciding on Real As he put it at the time: "When Real Madrid knock on the door The biggest indicator as to where Alexander-Arnold's future lay came when Real Madrid lodged a £20m bid in the January transfer window Those with long knowledge of Real's transfer strategy were assured they would not make such a move without being confident a free transfer would be completed in the summer not only wanting to keep Alexander-Arnold but also hoping to buy time for a change of heart he met head coach Arne Slot to inform him he would not be signing a new contract While there was always a quiet confidence behind the scenes at Anfield that Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk would sign new deals there was never the same sense of assurance about Alexander-Arnold a difficult season for Alexander-Arnold with injuries and the constant speculation - and latterly assumption - that he was on his way out It all seemed to come to head in the 2-2 draw against Manchester United at Anfield in January After Real Madrid's bid became public knowledge, Alexander-Arnold delivered a nightmare performance in what looked like a fog of confusion playing a poor pass that led to Lisandro Martinez's goal for United before getting caught out badly for Amad Diallo's late equaliser He was then given a yellow card and replaced by Conor Bradley with four minutes left having looked lost and distracted throughout while suddenly feeling the sound of Anfield's frustration aimed in his direction It is often whistling in the wind to ask fans who feel betrayed Alexander-Arnold has played a pivotal in the good times Liverpool's global fanbase have basked in first under Jurgen Klopp then in a remarkable first title-winning season under Slot He has made 352 appearances since making his debut in 2016 scoring 23 goals and claiming all of the game's major prizes Alexander-Arnold was integral when Liverpool won their first title in 30 years with Klopp at the helm in 2019-20 having won the Champions League the year before by beating Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 in the final in Madrid He now has two Premier League titles to his name as well as the Fifa Club World Cup and Uefa Super Cup For all the debate around Alexander-Arnold's defensive flaws these were outweighed by the creative brilliance and stunning range of passing that always gave Liverpool an extra dimension This is proved by his rate of providing 86 assists in his Anfield career Alexander-Arnold will be remembered as the local boy who became a modern Liverpool greats Now he must wait to see if this is fully acknowledged by the supporters who adored him as one of their own wearing the red shirt Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool & 'expected to join' Real Madrid - reaction and updates How could Liverpool replace Alexander-Arnold View comments | 2511Top storiesHis stats are better TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD has announced that he is leaving Liverpool at the end of the season The Liverpool right-back is calling time on his career with Liverpool after winning two Premier League titles, the FA Cup, two League Cups, the Champions League and the Club World Cup has been with The Reds since he was just six years old - becoming one of their greatest ever academy graduates since his debut in 2016 But after over 350 appearances for the club he will now be heading to Spain to take the next step in his career The England full-back has been heavily linked with Real Madrid all season and is understood to have agreed a five-year deal with the LaLiga giants worth £240,000-per-week - including a mega signing on fee While reports in Spain on Monday suggest a proposed SIX YEAR deal with Madrid on the table Now Alexander-Arnold has confirmed their supporters' fear and confirmed his departure in an emotional statement on social media, just a week after securing his second Premier League crown. It read: "After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season. "This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life. "I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests, which was securing No.20. While a blunt club statement from Liverpool read: "Trent Alexander-Arnold has informed Liverpool FC of his intention to leave the club this summer upon the expiry of his current contract People won't be happy with the decision but it's something I feel that I need to do with my career "The 26-year-old will bring his two-decade-long association with the Reds to an end having made the decision to depart Anfield once his deal ceases on June 30 Adding: "Alexander-Arnold will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success." There had been speculation around Alexander-Arnold potentially extending his stay with a new deal however the star has decided against doing so Both Salah and Van Dijk signed new deals in the past month that will keep them at Liverpool until 2027 The report adds how fractures began appearing last season when he was left unsettled by fresh contract talks only starting last April He is said to have understood the circumstances of why this was the case due to new sporting director Richard Hughes only just starting his new role TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD spoke to Liverpool's in-house club media to explain his decision to leave Anfield I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a change And I think now is the right time for me to do that Obviously there’s been a lot of noise around what the decision was going to be and how that was going to look I know a lot of people will say I should have said sooner I’ve got full confidence in the manager and the staff and the club going forward It’s not about me thinking we’re not going to fight for titles or fight for trophies season in it was never about not having confidence in that it just boiled down to what I felt I needed seeing players leave that I’ve loved watching and have helped the team win trophies you feel a connection to the players that you watch especially when they bring success to the club as well I completely understand the feelings that go with that and I’ve felt it myself so I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people Obviously that went into the decision as well – it’s something you don’t want to do you don’t want to ever have these moments where you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down it’s one that has played on my mind for a long time but being able now to get it off my chest will feel like a weight is lifted And I think it’s important for the fans to know where I stand and know what the truth is very young age and that’s something that has grown and grown day in This club has given me the opportunities to achieve everything beyond my wildest dreams I can never repay enough of what’s been given to me and I don’t take it for granted at all I’ve given everything every single day for 20 years now I know the news will take a bit of time to set in and people won’t be happy and they’ll be disappointed you can be angry and hurt at me but I just hope that the lads everyone else is able to feel how good a season this has been and able to feel the love and support from the fans as they have done all season I’ll be back – I’d love one day to be able to bring my kids to Anfield and show them that that’s where I’ve played and show them the videos and highlights of what we were able to achieve together thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me thank you for the love that I’ve always felt I will always love the fans and the supporters Hughes' first call in the job was to Alexander-Arnold's camp before subsequent offers to him would have made the defender the best paid defender in the Premier League Despite no official announcement, he now looks set to make his way to Real Madrid - joining close friend and England teammate Jude Bellingham Madrid considered trying to sign Alexander-Arnold in January to cover for injured right-back Dani Carvajal But he decided to stay put to see out the campaign and bows out with another Premier League winner's medal He said: "I think the decision for me is personal "It's not about wanting to find something better it's about me and my personal journey as a player and I feel like now is the best time for me to go and experience that "People won't be happy with the decision but it's something I feel that I need to do with my career" Alexander-Arnold will become the seventh Englishman to lace up his boots for Real Madrid He joins Laurie Cunningham, Steve McManaman, David Beckham, Michael Owen Jonathon Woodgate and Bellingham in the exclusive club Trent Alexander-Arnold’s free-transfer move to Real Madrid from Liverpool has been confirmed – with all the details around the arrangement he will sign at the Bernabeu now coming to light – but with the Reds seemingly having managed one final act of revenge towards the Spaniards over what will ultimately prove an extremely hard-to-swallow departure The worst-kept secret in football is now 100% official after Alexander-Arnold confirmed on Monday morning that he has taken the difficult decision to leave his boyhood club this summer after 20 years on their books. And while he stopped short of confirming a move to Real Madrid would be next all associated with Liverpool and the watching world know exactly where he is heading The move to the Bernabeu will end one of the longest-running transfer sagas in recent memory The Spanish giants’ interest in signing the Reds’ vice-captain dates back a good three years with their plans to land him at the end of his deal in summer 2025 long since known to be their grand plan Real, of course, did try and do a deal earlier, seeing two offers for the 26-year-old rejected by Liverpool in the January window as Carlo Ancelotti’s side looked to compensate for the season-ending injury sustained by veteran defender Dani Carvajal – the man Alexander-Arnold is now expected to replace The Spanish giants have also made it clear they wanted to bring the player in before his deal at Anfield officially expires on July 1, having asked Liverpool what it would take to bring him to Bernabeu a month prior so he could feature in FIFA’s latest initiative the upcoming much-expanded and hugely-lucrative Liverpool will not let that happen and the move to take the 33-times capped England star will not go through until July Writing on The Athletic Ornstein stated: ‘Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent with sources in Spain – speaking anonymously to protect relationships – suggesting a proposed six-year agreement to join the Spanish side has now entered its final stages and is on course to be signed in the coming weeks.’ is expected to net the player a hefty £240,000 a week package while Real are also reported to have given the player a significant seven-figure bonus payment as a signing-on fee ⚪ Trent Alexander-Arnold done deal: The best free-agent signings Real Madrid have ever made ⚪ Alexander-Arnold done deal: The last 10 players Real Madrid convinced to leave their local team Confirmation of Alexander-Arnold’s exit now rather than after the season has concluded means the player will get the chance to bid farewell to the fans that have idolised him for several years in their final home game of the season And according to The Times’ Paul Joyce Alexander Arnold ‘wanted to clarify his plans now’ rather than ‘waiting until after the title parade on May 26’ as he ‘does not want to be viewed as a coward who sneaked out the back door’ Confirming his departure in a message on his X page Alexander-Arnold posted: “After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club “This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life “I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this… I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this… pic.twitter.com/emAw5RvXq0 — Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) May 5, 2025 and I just hope that everyone is able to maybe not dwell on this news for too long and be able to celebrate what the rest of the lads have done.” While Alexander-Arnold is yet to comment on the reasons for joining Real Madrid, some detail into why the move was greenlit offered by Spanish football expert Guillem Balague back in March The player himself has also not hidden from his desire to win the game’s biggest prizes saying earlier this season: “The most important thing is trophies if I’m honest unlike Steve McManaman and Michael Owen before him the right-back can’t claim that he’s heading to the Spanish capital to satisfy a thirst for silverware given Liverpool’s form and recent Premier League title success since Arne Slot took over as manager ‘losing Alexander-Arnold isn’t a good look for Liverpool’s owners given that a £100m asset will be walking away for nothing’ Ornstein concludes: ‘At the age of 26 his best years remain ahead of him and the fact that they won’t be spent on the red side of Merseyside is a bitter pill to swallow’ By Samuel Bannister While Alexander-Arnold has amassed a respectable medal collection with Liverpool winning just about everything there is to win the sheer frequency of honours he could expect to pick up at Real Madrid may outweigh it Madrid are the Champions League’s most successful club winning two of the past three finals and five of the past nine and could enable Alexander-Arnold to add some more glittering honours to his cabinet Winning trophies with Liverpool will always be special for Alexander-Arnold but he could become even more decorated at Real Madrid – and in an age where people seem fixated on honours when judging a player Alexander-Arnold recently hinted he would like to aim for the Ballon d’Or while in the prime of his career And although Manchester City’s Rodri won the Ballon d’Or in 2024 it has more frequently been claimed by LaLiga players than Premier League players in recent memory Only once has a Liverpool player won the Ballon d’Or; there have been 12 times when a Real Madrid player has Alexander-Arnold could boost his chances of winning football’s biggest individual accolade by standing out in a star-studded Real Madrid team with his own unique role playing for his boyhood club for the only team he has ever known but he may also be eager to challenge himself in a different league and culture Spanish football is experiencing a resurgence – the men’s national team are the current European champions the women’s team are the current world champions and La Liga representatives Real Madrid are the reigning European champions at club level – and it would be fascinating to see how he would adapt to that style of play The lifestyle would also be a change for Alexander-Arnold and Alexander-Arnold would be able to link up with another English superstar in the shape of Jude Bellingham The pair get on well thanks to being international teammates and that may help Alexander-Arnold settle in the Spanish capital Bellingham certainly hit the ground running after joining Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund and Alexander-Arnold could back himself to do the same English players abroad can often become popular and Real Madrid could assemble a squad that contains two of the very best Who knows, but this opportunity might never come around again. Real Madrid have shown determination to wait for the right target in cases such as Kylian Mbappe, but their need to reinforce at right-back is becoming more urgent and if it isn’t with Alexander-Arnold, it could be with one of a number of alternatives Alexander-Arnold’s decision might be made for him he could say that he had tested himself on the most illustrious of stages He will have had a splendid career still if not but he will have to consider if he will be wondering ‘what if?’ by the time he reaches the end of his career – hopefully a long way away just yet While Alexander-Arnold’s role with Liverpool has been dominant in terms of the regularity of his gametime the same cannot be said for his England career he has more competition at international level but he was often overlooked by Gareth Southgate he will be wondering what Thomas Tuchel thinks of him his form at club level will impact the new England head coach’s decisions But will it benefit Alexander-Arnold to remain in sight in English football or could it actually benefit him to prove himself abroad but the recent change of Three Lions manager means this could be a clean slate for Alexander-Arnold in an England shirt and he has an impression to make Alexander-Arnold has seen his wages increase over time at Liverpool he may want to be elevated to the position of being their outright top earner It remains to be seen whether or not Liverpool would appease that ambition he would not be the top earner – due to the fortunes Mbappe is receiving – but could nevertheless take home a bigger salary than what he currently earns from Liverpool There are more important footballing factors to consider This is already becoming one of the big off-field sagas of the season; Alexander-Arnold has a lot to weigh up who sealed their 20th league title last month are understood to have offered Alexander-Arnold a new contract that would have made him the best paid full-back in the Premier League and one of the highest paid in the world The TimesArnold Schwarzenegger vowed to “terminate pollution” as he promoted an international climate conference with the help of Sir Tony Blair and Danny DeVito The Hollywood action hero posted a picture of himself next to an outdoor swimming pool with the former prime minister and DeVito “I love bringing old friends together!” Schwarzenegger wrote “It was fantastic to see my dear friend Tony Blair and introduce him to my brother I can’t wait to talk about terminating pollution together in Vienna at the @schwarzeneggerclimate summit!” • Arnold Schwarzenegger adds muscle to climate change fight with Cop26 visit the former Republican governor of California set up his climate initiative after leaving office in 2011 and launched By OLIVER HOLT I'm at a stage of life where I tend to glorify the players of yesteryear and so I think of footballers like Colin Bell as City's greatest players but I still believe  De Bruyne is better than all of them the best to pull on the famous sky-blue shirt And yet a few weeks ago, De Bruyne was informed that, after everything he had achieved in Manchester, all the titles he had won, the Premier Leagues and the Champions League he was surplus to requirements at the Etihad and that he would not be offered an extension to his contract but he seemed heartbroken to be leaving a club he loved He has been extremely well renumerated so it is hardly a sob story and I can see De Bruyne's talent is fading City fans love him and they have made that plain. I'm sure he will get a great send-off at the FA Cup final and in City's remaining league games But I don't see any protests about his impending departure Most people think it's the right move for the club De Bruyne has reached the end of his useful life at City so the answer is simple: see ya Liverpool fans have accused Trent Alexander-Arnold of betrayal after he confirmed his exit It is like Kevin De Bruyne leaving Manchester City: fans want to discard them but expect loyalty and it would have happened to Alexander-Arnold eventually There is no talk of family or of duty or of loyalty or of deception it would have happened to Alexander-Arnold and Angel Di Maria at Real Madrid and Jaap Stam at Manchester United and Andy Carroll at Newcastle and countless other players who didn't want to leave clubs that forced them out We are still oddly patriarchal about the player-club relationship as if we cannot shake ourselves free of the idea this is somehow about master and servant And so Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave is couched in pejorative terms like ingratitude and betrayal and disloyalty even though he has given 20 years of his life to a club and a set of supporters he adores None of that means I agree with statements such as 'Alexander-Arnold doesn't owe Liverpool anything' I think he owes them for the care and attention they have given to his development the brilliant coaching at the club's academy that has helped him progress and the faith shown in him by men such as Jurgen Klopp He owes Liverpool for the life they have given him and his family and he owes the fans for the adoration they have lavished on him and the emotions they have sparked in him in moments of joy and celebration Everything about how he behaves suggests Alexander-Arnold is deeply appreciative of all that has been done for him But the club and the fans owe Alexander-Arnold He has given them moments of joy and abandon and pure exultation and sheer wonderful escapism that will last for ever moments that will sit high in the iconography of a club even with Liverpool's glorious achievements about the corner taken against Barcelona at Anfield in that Champions League semi-final second leg in May 2019 the corner that fooled the Barcelona defence and set up Divock Origi to score the goal that sealed one of the greatest comebacks any of us have witnessed on one of the greatest nights English football has witnessed Alexander-Arnold owes Liverpool for the faith shown in him by the likes of boss Jurgen Klopp He also owes Liverpool for the life they have given him and his family during his time at Anfield His greatest moments do not deserve to be tarnished by idiotic accusations of ingratitude It was one of the most audacious and clever and brilliantly executed pieces of skill I've ever seen And it was just part of a groaning portfolio of sumptuous passes and curling arrowing free-kicks that have made Alexander-Arnold such a wonderful player to watch during his time at Anfield Those memories are gifts that keep on giving Those memories do not deserve to be tarnished by idiotic accusations of ingratitude The truth is Alexander-Arnold was good for Liverpool and Liverpool were good for him He has not broken his contract or agitated to leave ahead of time or refused to play or derailed Liverpool's title challenge or bad-mouthed the club or the city and made a huge contribution to the winning of a record-equalling 20th league title He should be departing for the challenge of playing abroad for Real Madrid because I loved watching him play at English league grounds but I know I'm lucky I got to see him shine for as long as I did I still hope Lewis Hamilton's move to Ferrari provides him with the platform he craves to win his eighth world drivers' title but the chances of that happening are looking increasingly forlorn A spat between a driver and his team is not unknown but for Hamilton to aim a public and brutally disparaging barb at Ferrari during the Miami Grand Prix by saying 'have a tea break while you're at it' to ridicule their decision-making process is the type of insult to professionalism and competence that both sides may find it hard to recover from The chances of Lewis Hamilton winning an eighth world title at Ferrari are looking very slim has won his first trophy in the professional game with Bayern Munich Only a curmudgeon – or Arsenal supporters – would begrudge Harry Kane who won the Bundesliga with Bayern Munich on Sunday Kane is weighed down with individual awards for scoring feats already but his triumph in Germany is a reward for one of England's greatest goalscorers and a brilliant professional You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy The Mail on Sunday & Metro Media Group Carragher is not expecting Alexander-Arnold to receive warm welcome when he returns to Anfield Jamie Carragher has warned Trent Alexander-Arnold that his legacy at Liverpool will be tarnished by his decision to leave the club The 26-year-old announced on Monday that he will bring an end to his time at Liverpool this summer, leaving as a free agent when his contract expires It is expected that Alexander-Arnold will join Real Madrid and Carragher believes that the “simmering resentment” some Liverpool fans feel towards that is justified “What is gained in the short-term can be sacrificed in terms of a legacy once a career is over and although it might sound like a cliché to say you are “part of family” once you are loved by the fans of the biggest it is true,” Carragher said in his column for The Telegraph “There are many examples of truly great players who gave stellar service everywhere they went but no longer feel emotionally attached to anyone because supporters will differentiate between those perceived to be putting the club first in the ongoing fight to take on the superpower of Real Madrid and those who were accused of thinking about their own career.” Alexander-Arnold confirms Liverpool decision with emotional statement Palmer ends long goal drought as Chelsea beat champions Liverpool Chelsea vs Liverpool LIVE: Premier League result and latest updates How Guerrilla.Co is tackling road-runoff pollution in the UK said he wanted a “new challenge” but that “his love for this club will never die” Carragher pointed to comments from the defender earlier his career when he spoke of his desire to become Liverpool captain and how he had never considered leaving the club “Different players have different characteristics and ambitions,” Carragher said “Liverpool fans did not think Alexander-Arnold saw his path in the same way as [Michael] Owen and [Davd] Beckham because he said his dream was to captain the club and follow his hero Gerrard Alexander-Arnold won eight major honours as a Liverpool player including two Premier League titles and the Champions League but Carragher believes that will all be forgotten when the right-back returns to Anfield with another club “I love seeing a Liverpool-born lad doing so well he will play for Real Madrid,” Carragher said “Part of me thinks ‘well done’ but the competitive element in me also thinks swapping Liverpool red for Real Madrid white means he has chosen to become a rival “It means the next time he is at Anfield he will receive the same treatment as Luis Suarez when he returned to Merseyside in a Barcelona shirt.” VE Day 2025 fashion: best looks from the day Man charged after London student nurse stabbed to death in Texas 'in row over cat' Man charged after London student nurse stabbed to death in Texas Chelsea have shared a moment to forget for Trent Alexander-Arnold after his Liverpool exit was officially confirmed The England international will leave Anfield at the end of the season after 21 years with the club Alexander-Arnold is set to depart once his contract expires this summer talkSPORT understands he has agreed terms on a five-year deal with Real Madrid Just hours after Alexander-Arnold announced his exit, Chelsea took to social media to share a clip from their Premier League clash The Blues claimed a 3-1 victory over the champions at Stamford Bridge on Sunday However, the winger's feint dummy saw the ball run past both players as he turned and sprinted up the touchline. Alexander-Arnold was left in Madueke's wake as he attempted to chase after his opponent. Alongside the post, Chelsea's official X account wrote: "See yaaaaa!" with a waving hand emoji. with one commenting: "Admin chose violence." another poked fun at Alexander-Arnold by adding: "This can't be Trent's last Chelsea memory." The right-back had earlier released a statement confirming his departure from Liverpool "This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life." which was securing number 20 [league titles] After progressing through the club's academy Alexander-Arnold has made 352 first-team appearances for Liverpool he has scored 23 goals and provided 92 assists from right-back This season's Premier League title also takes his trophy haul to nine which also includes the Champions League Sports News ColumnistPublished: Invalid Date TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD is set to join Real Madrid from Liverpool for less than £1million in time for the Club World Cup As SunSport reported in December, Real want the defender to be available for their opening game of next month’s Fifa competition And reports in Spain say Kop chiefs are prepared to let that happen for a token fee while saving a month of the England star’s wages Despite suggestions that Alexander-Arnold might join Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk in penning a new deal, Liverpool are resigned to the home-grown full-back leaving for the Bernabeu His contract expires on June 30 but Real are keen on pushing through a move before then Two special transfer windows — from June 1 to 10 and June 27 to July 3 — will allow Club World Cup sides to improve their squads Some Reds fans are upset that the club are set to lose the player for so little. They point to the example of Jack Grealish, who signed a new deal at hometown club Aston Villa before joining Manchester City for £100m — money that was used to help transform Villa. Meanwhile Liverpool are keen to tie down versatile forward Luis Diaz with a longer contract. who has just over two years left on his current deal has been linked with Barcelona and the Saudi Pro League has enjoyed an impressive season at the Reds He is known to have dreamed of playing for Barca But there is huge scepticism about the cash-strapped Catalans’ ability to pay big fees we're happy to send you some reminders Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications Home> Football> Football News> Liverpool Trent Alexander-Arnold is in line to receive a whopping salary at Real Madrid as further details emerge following confirmation he will be leaving Liverpool the England international has decided to move for pastures new A day after the 3-1 defeat to Chelsea Alexander-Arnold posted a lengthy statement accompanied by an emotional video explaining his decision Liverpool also put out an official statement and said the two-time Premier League winner will "depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success" In what appears to be the worst kept secret in football, Alexander-Arnold is now poised to embark on a new chapter in Spain, joining England teammate Jude Bellingham at 15-time European champions Real According to Fabrizio Romano Alexander-Arnold is expected to sign a five-year contract at the Santiago Bernabeu Sacha Tavolieri of Sky Sport reported that he will also be given a hefty salary increase from his Liverpool pay packet earning €15 million per year prior to any taxes performance-related bonuses and a signing on fee factored in However, the figure means he will not be one of Real's top earners - with the likes of Vinicius Jr and Kylian Mbappe on higher wages than Alexander-Arnold His Liverpool deal is due to officially expire on July 1 but The Sun say he could join up with Real sooner as they want him to participate in the Club World Cup which kicks off in the United States in June It's claimed if an early release is paid for by Los Blancos Alexander-Arnold could move on June 1 and would be on course to feature against Al Hilal in the group stage game in Miami on June 15 Alexander-Arnold has racked up 351 appearances for Liverpool He could pull on the Reds shirt three more times including twice at home to Arsenal and Crystal Palace Topics: Liverpool, Trent Alexander-Arnold, Real Madrid, Premier League, Champions League Josh is a sports journalist who specialises in football and wrestling. He has been published by Curzon Ashton FC, Late Tackle, Manchester City FC, The Mirror, Read Man City and Manchester Evening News. He provides coverage of professional wrestling and has interviewed some of the biggest names in the field - including the first UK interview with The Hardy Boyz after their return to WWE. He has never sported a pair of Lonsdale Slip-ons, contrary to reports. Getty ImagesLuke ReddyBBC Sport Senior JournalistPublished5 May 2025A drive through Liverpool right now offers the chance to see countless flags draped from windows and guttering as fans colour their houses in celebration of a 20th league title One on Queens Drive - two minutes along the busy road where Trent Alexander-Arnold lived as a child - explains such success is "part of our DNA" one fan has managed to hang a flag from a telephone cable He has quite literally stood atop a parade bus and been able to see his childhood home The young man has indeed come a long way in the most localised manner two Premier League titles and 86 assists have come the way of a player who dreamed of such outcomes when he joined the Reds It must be borderline scary to have achieved so much of what you wished for by the age of 26 Does the view from the roof of the bus get old Do you grow a little more numb to the dusting of red smoke it is almost impossible to grasp why change might be longed for "I need a new change," he has explained There is a world - and one in which it is not too hard to imagine - where Alexander-Arnold's name graced The Anfield Road end Had a lifetime of service ensued along with maybe a few more trophies there would have been a strong case - one day - for such an outcome is lasting legacy - one's name on a stand or below a statue that now appears far less likely to ever happen Alexander-Arnold might instead become a Galactico one wonders if the next leg of his journey will ultimately provide the unique His weighing of what are personal factors implies so some decisions do not come down to legacy but hinge on what an individual places the deepest value upon It is almost certain Alexander-Arnold will add countless of the latter to his cabinets from here on in such is his talent and the status of the club he looks set to join there are other key factors and motivations There's a chance to conquer a language and to grow one's brand in foreign lands Few of even the most diehard Liverpool fans - the type who scale telephone poles to hang flags - could begrudge the cocktail of plus points and experiences Alexander-Arnold is set to live out and enjoy He is ultimately happy with his legacy in his home city and comfortable with the fact it may never deliver a name on a stand There will instead always be the trophies earned in red to look back on when the dust on a controversial departure settles one would expect even fans frustrated by his exit to offer nods of respect at one of Liverpool's sons The kid from Queens Drive has new roads to conquer Fans must now conquer their confusion as to why one of their own will no longer be part of their DNA Related topicsLiverpoolPremier LeagueFootballTop storiesHis stats are better Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has broken his silence on his future and confirmed he is leaving Anfield after 20 years at the club Leaving a club the size of Liverpool is a huge decision for any footballer – and this lot all came to regret their choice to leave Anfield As Trent Alexander-Arnold announces his decision to move to Real Madrid many former Reds will be reflecting on their own decision to leave prematurely We’ve picked out 11 players who should’ve stayed at Liverpool with the benefit of hindsight but the formation of Jurgen Klopp’s great all-conquering Liverpool team can probably be traced back to the sale of Coutinho in 2018 Having received £200million for Neymar six months previously Barcelona panicked and splurged a huge proportion of that world-record fee on signing Coutinho Liverpool reinvested the cash they received far more wisely by using the cash they received for the Brazilian playmaker to bring in game-changers Virgil van Dijk and Alisson capable of producing extraordinary moments But he was never able to recapture that at the Camp Nou from Aston Villa speaks volumes about how things have gone for him Wijnaldum was a key cog in a Liverpool midfield that won the Champions League and Premier League in successive seasons Part of a wider theme here with players Jurgen Klopp got the best out of Wijnaldum sought a new challenge when his contract expired in 2021 and reportedly rejected Ronald Koeman’s Barcelona for better wages at PSG He failed to impress in Paris and was loaned out to Jose Mourinho’s Roma after just one season But he suffered a broken leg and failed to kick on at the Stadio Olimpico he’s turning out as the captain of Al Ettifaq in the Saudi Pro League Surely he’d have been better served staying at Anfield Torres left Liverpool and went on to win the Champions League scoring one of the most iconic goals in Chelsea’s recent history at the Camp Nou and sealing their spot in the 2012 final in the process El Nino was never the same player in Chelsea blue as he was in Liverpool red he looked unrecognisable to the fearless forward who used to bully Nemanja Vidic for sport Torres scored 81 goals in 145 appearances for Liverpool but only 45 goals in 172 outings for the Blues Owen still defends both his decision to leave Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2004 and his goal tally during his short-lived time in Spain Sixteen goals from a season in which he saw limited game time isn’t as bad as you might think But Liverpool won the Champions League immediately after the striker departed and you can divide Owen’s career into two distinct categories: his time at Anfield and his time after The first where he was one of the world’s best strikers and scoring goals for fun and the latter where he was serviceable at best for Madrid recurring hamstring injuries probably have more to do with that than the team he happened to be representing Fowler wasn’t just a player; he was ‘God’ the striker became an unquestionable Liverpool legend netting a whopping 120 Premier League goals in just 236 appearances who preferred the more prosaic Emile Heskey as Owen’s strike partner His time at Elland Road was followed by a spell with Manchester City with Fowler not quite recapturing the magic of his Liverpool days A return to Anfield in 2006 was an admittance from the player and perhaps the club that ‘God’ should never have been allowed to leave Crouch has previously confessed that leaving Liverpool for Portsmouth in 2008 was the ‘biggest club regret’ of his career admitting he would’ve loved to have been a ‘one-club man’ “It would have been brilliant to be a one-club man or to spend 10 years at a particular place,” the former England striker told the Daily Mail in 2020 “My biggest club regret is leaving Liverpool too early but circumstances meant I had little option.” Seeing the likes of Andriy Voronin and David Ngog lead the line 18 months later stung I couldn’t help but think I left too early,” Crouch admitted Mane is only three months older than Mohamed Salah while the Egyptian King continues to tear it up for Liverpool Mane soon dropped off the footballing map completely after leaving Anfield in 2022 His move to Bayern Munich was nothing short of a disaster he was unceremoniously shipped out to the Saudi Pro League The Senegal international might be pottering along for Al-Ittihad but surely he could’ve played for Liverpool for a few more years at least Informed by Jurgen Klopp that he would no longer be one of the first names on the team-sheet after an indifferent 2022-23 campaign Henderson decided it was time to seek pastures new Those pastures turned out to be in the Middle East as Henderson moved to Saudi Arabia to reunite with Steven Gerrard at Al-Ettifaq The move would be a disaster for the midfielder shredding his previous reputation as an LGBTQ ally and only lasting six months before scampering back to Europe Henderson now plays for Ajax and is on the verge of captaining the Dutch giants to the Eredivisie title READ: Jordan Henderson & 7 other footballers that absolutely f*cked it with ill-advised transfers Despite being offered a new contract at Liverpool in 2018 the German midfielder rejected the extension and signed a bumper deal with Juventus instead “I had a lot of offers from very good teams,” Can said at the time “I decided to come to Juventus because I think the project here is very big the move didn’t really work out and Can had to watch from afar as the Reds won the Champions League and Premier League over the next two seasons although that famous “it was like living in a foreign country” line is by all accounts apocryphal Liverpool’s all-time top goalscorer believes that his short stint in Italy actually improved him as a footballer for his second wildly prolific spell on Merseyside “At Juventus I learned to be a better all-round player,” Rush told FourFourTwo “I went to Italy as a goalscorer and came back a better footballer my job was just to be in and around the box “In Italy I was around the pitch more getting back to the halfway line and everything.” never won anything with Italy’s most dominant force and surely wouldn’t have returned to Liverpool so soon if he’d delivered in Turin you can count Leeds after his second Anfield farewell He only scored three Premier League goals for the Yorkshire club in an instantly forgettable footnote to a remarkable career Barmby was part of that golden Liverpool era around the millennium when the Reds won an unprecedented cup treble He’d joined Leeds at just the wrong time; the bankrupt Yorkshire outfit were relegated two years later with Barmby having made just 25 appearances