The move to the Bernabeu will end one of the longest-running transfer sagas in recent memory. The Spanish giants\u2019 interest in signing the Reds\u2019 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.<\/p>\n
Real, of course, did try and do a deal earlier, seeing two offers for the 26-year-old rejected by Liverpool<\/a> in the January window as Carlo Ancelotti\u2019s side looked to compensate for the season-ending injury sustained by veteran defender Dani Carvajal \u2013 the man Alexander-Arnold is now expected to replace.<\/p>\n 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<\/a> so he could feature in FIFA\u2019s latest initiative, the upcoming much-expanded and hugely-lucrative, Club World Cup.<\/p>\n However, according to journalist David Ornstein, Liverpool will not let that happen and the move to take the 33-times capped England star will not go through until July, as initially slated.<\/p>\n Writing on The Athletic<\/a>, Ornstein stated: \u2018Alexander-Arnold is expected to join Real Madrid as a free agent, with sources in Spain \u2013 speaking anonymously to protect relationships \u2013 suggesting a proposed six-year agreement, which would start in July, is in the process of being completed.<\/p>\n \u2018A deal for the right-back, 26, to join the Spanish side has now entered its final stages and is on course to be signed in the coming weeks.\u2019<\/p>\n That six-year deal, through to the summer of 2031, is expected to net the player a hefty \u00a3240,000 a week package, while Real are also reported to have given the player a significant seven-figure bonus payment as a signing-on fee.<\/p>\n GO DEEPER<\/strong><\/p>\n \u26aa Trent Alexander-Arnold done deal: The best free-agent signings Real Madrid have ever made<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n \u26aa Alexander-Arnold done deal: The last 10 players Real Madrid convinced to leave their local team<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n Trent Alexander-Arnold: Star wanted to be honest with Liverpool fans<\/strong><\/p>\n Confirmation of Alexander-Arnold\u2019s 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, against Crystal Palace at Anfield, on May 25.<\/p>\n And according to The Times\u2019 Paul Joyce,\u00a0Alexander Arnold \u2018wanted to clarify his plans now\u2019, rather than \u2018waiting until after the title parade on May 26\u2019, as he \u2018does not want to be viewed as a coward who sneaked out the back door\u2019.<\/p>\n Confirming his departure in a message on his X page, Alexander-Arnold posted: \u201cAfter 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.<\/p>\n \u201cThis is easily the hardest decision I\u2019ve ever made in my life.<\/p>\n \u201cI know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven\u2019t spoken about this\u2026<\/p>\n 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.<\/p>\n This is easily the hardest decision I\u2019ve ever made in my life.<\/p>\n I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven\u2019t spoken about this\u2026 pic.twitter.com\/emAw5RvXq0<\/a><\/p>\n \u2014 Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) May 5, 2025<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n \u201cI think first and foremost, I want to say it\u2019s not an easy decision and there\u2019s a lot of thought and feeling that has gone into it. I\u2019ve been here 20 years now, loved every single minute of it, achieved all my dreams, achieved everything I\u2019ve ever wanted to here,\u201d he told Liverpool\u2019s official website.<\/p>\n \u201cGiving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s a lot I would like to say,\u201d he said of Liverpool fans. \u201cThe main thing is a massive thank you. You guys have been there from the start with me, you guys have supported me, been there.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019ve felt the support, the love, everything that you guys have done has never been unnoticed by me, I\u2019ve loved every single minute of it. I hope they have felt that has been reciprocated and that I\u2019ve given everything I could to the club.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m just hoping that we\u2019re able to carry on winning games, the noise [around my decision] doesn\u2019t take away from the fact of what we\u2019ve achieved this season.<\/p>\n \u201cIt has been an amazing 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.\u201d<\/p>\n 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<\/a>.<\/p>\n The player himself has also not hidden from his desire to win the game\u2019s biggest prizes, saying earlier this season: \u201cThe most important thing is trophies if I\u2019m honest.<\/p>\n \u201cI want to win trophies. I\u2019m a player who is highly motivated by winning things and being elite. That\u2019s probably the main factor of anything. If you have a personality that\u2019s elite, who wants to win and will do anything to win then that\u2019s what drives them.\u201d<\/p>\n Having come through the club\u2019s academy, Alexander-Arnold has made 352 Liverpool appearances, scoring 23 goals and providing 92 assists.<\/p>\n However, unlike Steve McManaman and Michael Owen before him, the right-back can\u2019t claim that he\u2019s heading to the Spanish capital to satisfy a thirst for silverware given Liverpool\u2019s form and recent Premier League title success since Arne Slot took over as manager.<\/p>\n And, as Ornstein points out, \u2018losing Alexander-Arnold isn\u2019t a good look for Liverpool\u2019s owners, FSG, given that a \u00a3100m asset will be walking away for nothing\u2019.<\/p>\n Ornstein concludes: \u2018At the age of 26, his best years remain ahead of him and the fact that they won\u2019t be spent on the red side of Merseyside is a bitter pill to swallow\u2019.<\/p>\n Seven reasons Alexander-Arnold has decided to leave for Real Madrid<\/strong><\/p>\n By Samuel Bannister<\/a><\/p>\n Constant expectation of major trophies<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019s 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 \u2013 and in an age where people seem fixated on honours when judging a player, that could hold some weight.<\/p>\n Ballon d\u2019Or ambitions<\/strong><\/p>\n Alexander-Arnold recently hinted he would like to aim for the Ballon d\u2019Or while in the prime of his career. And although Manchester City\u2019s Rodri won the Ballon d\u2019Or 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\u2019Or; there have, in contrast, been 12 times when a Real Madrid player has, which is the joint-most of any club. Alexander-Arnold could boost his chances of winning football\u2019s biggest individual accolade by standing out in a star-studded Real Madrid team with his own unique role.<\/p>\n Experiencing a different culture<\/strong><\/p>\n On one hand, Alexander-Arnold is in his comfort zone, playing for his boyhood club for the only team he has ever known. That may suit him, but he may also be eager to challenge himself in a different league and culture. Spanish football is experiencing a resurgence \u2013 the men\u2019s national team are the current European champions, the women\u2019s team are the current world champions, and La Liga representatives Real Madrid are the reigning European champions at club level \u2013 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, deep down, who wouldn\u2019t prefer the Spanish climates?<\/p>\n Bellingham linkup<\/strong><\/p>\n If he was to move to Real Madrid, 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.<\/p>\n Having no regrets<\/strong><\/p>\n 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\u2019t with Alexander-Arnold,\u00a0it could be with one of a number of alternatives<\/a>. The ship might sail. In that case, Alexander-Arnold\u2019s decision might be made for him, but would he look back with any regrets? By moving to Madrid, 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 \u2018what if?\u2019 by the time he reaches the end of his career \u2013 hopefully a long way away just yet.<\/p>\n England role<\/strong><\/p>\n While Alexander-Arnold\u2019s role with Liverpool has been dominant in terms of the regularity of his gametime, the same cannot be said for his England career. Granted, he has more competition at international level, but he was often overlooked by Gareth Southgate. Now, he will be wondering what Thomas Tuchel thinks of him. Naturally, his form at club level will impact the new England head coach\u2019s decisions. But will it benefit Alexander-Arnold to remain in sight in English football, or could it actually benefit him to prove himself abroad? There are arguments either way, 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.<\/p>\n Money<\/strong><\/p>\n Alexander-Arnold has seen his wages increase over time at Liverpool, becoming one of their best-paid players. In his next deal, 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. Over in Madrid, meanwhile, he would not be the top earner \u2013 due to the fortunes Mbappe is receiving \u2013 but could nevertheless take home a bigger salary than what he currently earns from Liverpool. There are more important footballing factors to consider, but as always for players of this calibre, money could play its part. This is already becoming one of the big off-field sagas of the season; Alexander-Arnold has a lot to weigh up.<\/p>\n\n
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