England international Trent Alexander-Arnold will officially become a Real Madrid player on Sunday, 1 June, after Liverpool agreed to release the defender from his contract early in exchange for a reported €10 million (£8.4 million).
Sources close to the Anfield club confirm the fee has been paid upfront in full, although insiders at the Bernabéu claim the actual sum may be slightly lower.
The deal allows the 26-year-old to register in time for the FIFA Club World Cup, which kicks off on 14 June in the United States.
Alexander-Arnold’s contract with Liverpool was set to expire at the end of June, meaning he could have left on a free transfer. However, both clubs reached an agreement to facilitate his early move to Spain.
The full-back has signed a six-year contract with Real Madrid, which includes a staggering €1 billion (£840 million) buy-out clause, highlighting the club’s long-term vision for the player.
FIFA Registration Window Opens for Club World Cup
FIFA has authorised a special transfer window between 1–10 June for clubs involved in the newly-expanded Club World Cup, allowing Real Madrid to finalise Alexander-Arnold’s registration ahead of their first group match against Saudi side Al-Hilal on 18 June in Miami.
Before linking up with the Spanish giants, Alexander-Arnold could add to his 33 England caps, having been named in the squad for the upcoming World Cup qualifier against Andorra (7 June) and a friendly against Senegal (10 June).
An End of an Era at Liverpool
Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool FC, his boyhood club, after nearly two decades of service, having joined the academy at just six years old.
He departs with an impressive tally of 354 appearances, 23 goals, and 92 assists, cementing his legacy as one of the club’s modern greats.
During his time at Anfield, he helped Liverpool secure a glittering haul of silverware, including:
Two Premier League titles
Champions League
FIFA Club World Cup
UEFA Super Cup
FA Cup
EFL Cup
Earlier this month, the defender confirmed his intention to leave Merseyside in search of a “new challenge”, stating that the move would allow him to grow “personally and professionally.”
Reunion with Jude Bellingham and Xabi Alonso
At Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold will link up with England team-mate Jude Bellingham and will be managed by Xabi Alonso, who recently took over from Carlo Ancelotti as head coach.
Alonso, himself a former star for both Liverpool and Real Madrid, has stepped in after a disappointing season in which Los Blancos failed to secure a major trophy for the first time since 2020–21.
