Trent Alexander-Arnold has officially announced his departure from Liverpool, ending a two-decade association with the club to join Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer.
The England international, whose contract at Anfield expires in July, has long been linked with a move to the Spanish giants. On Monday, he confirmed via an emotional social media post that he will leave his boyhood club at the end of the current season.
“This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” Alexander-Arnold wrote on Instagram. “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.”
The 25-year-old right-back has made 352 appearances for Liverpool, collecting nine major trophies during a glittering spell that saw him rise from the club’s academy to become a key figure in Jürgen Klopp’s side. His honours include the Premier League, Champions League, FA Cup, and Club World Cup.
While speculation around his future has swirled for months, Alexander-Arnold explained his silence was out of respect for the team’s pursuit of success in what has been a competitive season. “It was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests, which was securing No.20,” he added, referring to a potential 20th league title.
The Liverpool vice-captain spoke of his desire for a new challenge as the driving force behind his decision. “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,” he wrote.
He expressed deep gratitude to the club and its supporters: “My love for this club will never die,” he said. “I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here.”
Alexander-Arnold is expected to sign a long-term deal with Real Madrid, where he will join fellow Englishman Jude Bellingham at the Santiago Bernabéu.
His departure marks the end of an era at Liverpool—and the beginning of a new chapter in Spain.