Liverpool have confirmed that they have accepted an offer from Real Madrid for Trent Alexander-Arnold, who will pay the Reds a reported £10m to sign him before the end of his contract.
The England international's imminent move to Los Blancos had been an open secret for several weeks, and it was only a matter of time before his transfer to the Bernabeu was made official.
Alexander-Arnold confirmed before the end of the 2024-25 season that he would be departing his boyhood club without naming his next destination, and the initial expectation was that he would leave without Liverpool earning a penny.
However, as Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool deal was due to expire on June 30, he would originally not have been able to join the Spanish giants in time for the start of their Club World Cup campaign, which begins on June 18.
As a result, Real Madrid pushed to sign the 26-year-old a few weeks early in order to have him in the ranks for the entirety of their CWC run, and Liverpool have now announced that they have said yes to a proposal from Los Blancos.
Liverpool release statement as Alexander-Arnold joins Real Madrid
© Imago
The Reds did not disclose how much money they received for letting Alexander-Arnold depart early, but reports have claimed that they stand to pocket a healthy £10m, made up of a firm £8.4m fee and the rest coming from saved wages and bonuses.
"Liverpool FC can confirm an offer has been accepted for Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid for his transfer upon the opening of the June transfer window," a statement read. "The full-back is now set to join the La Liga club ahead of the expiry of his Reds contract this summer.
"Liverpool will receive a fee for his services, with the deal to be concluded once the window opens on June 1. Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool FC with the club appreciative and grateful for his contribution to those successes."
Real Madrid also confirmed Alexander-Arnold's arrival on Friday morning, sharing a graphic of the defender with a Bernabeu background and the caption "🤩 #WelcomeTrent 🤩".
Alexander-Arnold departs Liverpool with a total of 23 goals and 92 assists under his belt from 354 appearances in all competitions, winning eight major trophies across six different competitions.
Alexander-Arnold's early exit is a significant victory for all parties
🤩 #WelcomeTrent 🤩 pic.twitter.com/FkySMnU5cs
— Real Madrid C.F. (@realmadrid) May 30, 2025
No amount of money may ease the pain of Alexander-Arnold's exit for Liverpool fans, many of whom feel that the 26-year-old has committed an unforgivable betrayal by joining their bitter European rivals in such circumstances.
However, for the Reds to claim a total of £10m for a player who had just four weeks left to run on his contract, sporting director Richard Hughes and Fenway Sports Group's CEO of Football Michael Edwards have pulled off a masterstroke.
Liverpool get a healthy fee for a player who would have otherwise left on a free transfer, Real Madrid get their man in time for the Club World Cup - everybody is a winner.
Alexander-Arnold joins £50m defender Dean Huijsen at Xabi Alonso's Real Madrid, where he will seemingly have to get accustomed to playing as a wing-back in the Spaniard's 3-4-3 system.
The Englishman could make his Blancos debut in their Club World Cup opener against Al-Hilal on June 18, before Los Blancos face Pachuca on June 22 and Red Bull Salzburg on June 26.
Ben Knapton
