Real Madrid pay €10m to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold before Club World Cup - with England star signing six-year contract as he leaves Liverpool ahead of hitting free agency

The England international defender had been due to hit free agency this summer, but would not have reached that point until June 30. In order to bring the 26-year-old into their plans for the start of a global gathering in the United States, La Liga giants Real have agreed to part with a transfer fee - reported to be around €10 million (£8m/$11m).

Alexander-Arnold is bidding farewell to his native Merseyside on the back of a second Premier League title triumph with his boyhood club. The Reds have said in a statement on their official website: “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. 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.”

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Real added in a statement of their own: “Real Madrid CF and Liverpool FC have reached an agreement that will keep Trent Alexander-Arnold at our club for the next six seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2031. The 26-year-old English international joins our team after winning nine titles with Liverpool: 1 Champions League, 1 Club World Cup, 1 European Super Cup, 2 Premier League titles, 1 FA Cup, 2 League Cups, and 1 FA Super Cup.

“Alexander-Arnold will play with Real Madrid in the Club World Cup, which will be held in the United States starting June 14.”

Real expressed an interest in taking Alexander-Arnold before the end of his contract after it was announced that he would be leaving Anfield. A compromise has finally been reached that suits all parties.

The Blancos will part with €10m in a single payment, with Liverpool also benefitting from the fact that they no longer need to cover Alexander-Arnold’s remaining salary and bonuses that he is owed. Real are due to open their Club World Cup campaign against Al-Hilal on June 18.