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.
Local Liverpool lad Alexander-Arnold, 26, 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, aged 18.
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.
READ MORE IN FOOTBALL
Liverpool fans had been waiting for an announcement on Alexander-Arnold’s future – with speculation growing more intense after Mo Salah and Virgil van Dijk extended their own deals on Merseyside.
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.
Most read in Football
CASINO SPECIAL – BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS
“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, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. I will forever be in debt to you all.
“But, 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.
“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.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody – my coaches, my managers, my teammates, 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.”
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.
Trent Alexander-Arnold
“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.”
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 Athletic report Alexander-Arnold informed manager Arne Slot of his decision to leave the club in a face-to-face meeting at the club’s Kirkby training complex in March after the ankle injury he sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in the Last-16 of the Champions League.
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 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, but privately wondered if the 2024/25 season would be his final one at Anfield.
Trent Alexander-Arnold’s Liverpool exit interview
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD spoke to Liverpool’s in-house club media to explain his decision to leave Anfield.
Here are the key parts…
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. 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 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.
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, 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.
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, season out… it was never about not having confidence in that, it just boiled down to what I felt I needed, and that is a change.
Growing up, 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. So, 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, will anger people, it will make them upset. 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, you’re disappointing a lot of people. But I’ve had to make a decision for me, it’s as simple as that. It’s a difficult one, 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.
I fell in love with the club from a very, very young age and that’s something that has grown and grown day in, day out. 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’ve sacrificed everything.
I know the news will take a bit of time to set in and people won’t be happy and they’ll be disappointed. At the end of the day, you can be angry and hurt at me but I just hope that the lads, the rest of the team, the staff, 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.
There’s no doubt about it, 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. So just a huge thank you for that, thank you for everything you’ve ever done for me. Thank you for the support, thank you for the love that I’ve always felt, thank you for always having my back. I will always love the club, I will always love the people of the club, I will always love the fans and the supporters. Even though I’m leaving as player, as a fan I’ll always be a Liverpool fan.
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.
During an emotional announcement video, Alexander-Arnold hinted at his future.
He said: “I think the decision for me is personal. To change my environment, to challenge myself elsewhere.
“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”.
Read More on The Sun
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.
What happened to the Englishmen who joined Real Madrid?
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?
LAURIE CUNNINGHAM (1979-1984)
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, scoring twice on his debut.
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 moved to Marseille in 1984.
Having played for Leicester, Charleroi and Wimbledon, 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.
STEVE MCMANAMAN (1999-2003)
Like Alexander-Arnold is set to, McManaman left boyhood club Liverpool for the bright lights of Madrid in 1999.
A silky winger, McManaman proved to be a hit in Madrid.
The Bernabeu crowd immediately took to their new English hero, with his floppy hair and nonchalant flair.
McManaman helped Real win six trophies in four years, and scored his side’s second goal in their victorious 2000 Champions League final.
He went on to leave Madrid in 2003, spending the final two years of his career with Manchester City.
After hanging up his boots, McManaman worked as a pundit for Setanta Sports, BT Sport and ESPN.
Now 53, he can regularly be seen on TNT Sports’ football coverage, especially when Liverpool or Real Madrid are playing.
DAVID BECKHAM (2003-2007)
In 2003, Real Madrid made Manchester United superstar Beckham their latest Galactico.
Golden Balls joined a squad boasting the likes of Ronaldo, Raul, 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, professionalism and of course, quality.
Despite boasting a star-studded squad, the fabled La Decima – a tenth Champions League triumph – eluded Real Madrid during his four-year stint.
He didn’t leave empty-handed, however, 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, Armani, Pepsi and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
Beckham, 49, also owns MLS side Inter Miami, and played a big role in their groundbreaking deal for Lionel Messi in 2023.
MICHAEL OWEN (2004-2005)
Like McManaman before him, Owen quit Liverpool for Real Madrid.
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, before one final year at Stoke.
Immediately after hanging up his boots, Owen signed up to be BT Sport’s primary co-commentator upon the channel’s launch.
In addition to his punditry work, the former striker has enjoyed several other ventures.
Owen, 45, has his own clothing range with Peacocks, while he also appeared on The Masked Singer.
JONATHAN WOODGATE (2004-2007)
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.
Just 25 minutes in, the England international headed into his own net. Things then got even worse when he was sent off just after the hour mark.
Woodgate played just 14 times that season, before a loan move to Middlesbrough effectively ended his Real Madrid career.
After signing permanently for Boro, 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, Woodgate retired in 2016.
He has since gone into coaching, managing Boro and Bournemouth.
Woodgate, 45, returned to Middlesbrough once again in 2022, where he works as a first team coach under Michael Carrick.
JUDE BELLINGHAM (2023-present)
England superstar Bellingham sealed a blockbuster £115m transfer from Borussia Dortmund to Real Madrid in the summer of 2023.
The move has been a resounding success, with the midfielder immediately excelling in Spain.
Bellingham scored on his debut, 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.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk