Real Madrid Sign Trent Alexander-Arnold From Liverpool On Free Transfer.
Real Madrid have secured the signing of England international Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool on a contract running until 2031, the La Liga giants announced on Friday. The 26-year-old right-back, fresh off winning the Premier League with Liverpool, joins the Spanish club for an undisclosed fee, enabling him to feature in the upcoming Club World Cup.
Alexander-Arnold, a product of Liverpool’s academy, has been a cornerstone of the Reds’ success, amassing 352 appearances and lifting the Champions League in 2019 and the Premier League in 2020. His departure from Anfield, where his contract was nearing its end, sparked mixed emotions among fans. Some expressed dismay, booing him during his penultimate match, but the tide turned after heartfelt pleas from club icons like Jürgen Klopp and Mohamed Salah. The defender was warmly applauded as he lifted the Premier League trophy at Anfield last Sunday.
Joining former Liverpool midfielder Xabi Alonso, now Real Madrid’s head coach following Carlo Ancelotti’s departure, Alexander-Arnold arrives at a club seeking to rebound from a trophyless season. Known for his pinpoint passing and attacking flair, the right-back’s occasional defensive lapses have drawn scrutiny, but his creativity is expected to bolster a Madrid side that struggled at the position this term. Veteran Dani Carvajal has been sidelined by a long-term knee injury, while winger Lucas Vázquez has faltered when deployed out of position at right-back.
Alexander-Arnold could make his debut for Los Blancos against Al-Hilal in the Club World Cup opener on 18 June in Miami. Real Madrid also confirmed the signing of Spanish centre-back Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth, as they aim to shore up a defence plagued by injuries this season.
The move marks a new chapter for Alexander-Arnold, who leaves his boyhood club to join one of Europe’s footballing powerhouses under Alonso’s ambitious project to restore Real Madrid’s dominance.