Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool at the end of the season - latest updates and reaction
Sami Mokbel: Alexander-Arnold 'expected to join' Real Madrid
Alexander-Arnold: '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'
Stats: PL chances created since TAA debut | Most assists since debut | Assists from debuts
Analysis: How did we get here? Story of Alexander-Arnold's Liverpool departure | How Alexander-Arnold helped boyhood club to Champions League glory
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Image source, Getty ImagesLiverpool midfielder and England international Curtis Jones has reacted to Trent Alexander leaving on Instagram: "Thank you for everything brother. Legend. Good luck"
Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
It’s the lure of a new challenge - the prestige of becoming a Galactico, that is understood to be the overriding motivation for Trent Alexander-Arnold.
Indeed, while he will undoubtedly be well remunerated in the Spanish capital - with well-placed sources indicating that his basic wage in Madrid will be supplemented by a healthy commercial and image rights package - Liverpool were willing to make Alexander-Arnold one of the best paid defenders in Premier League history to sign a new contract at Anfield.
But you get the impression that money isn’t the sole driver for Alexander-Arnold. He’s won everything there is to win with Liverpool.
He is going out a winner, too; playing a key role in the club’s 20th league title triumph. Winning at Real Madrid puts you on different stratosphere, though.
The lure of Real, even for someone as emotionally attached to his surroundings as Alexander-Arnold is, is hard to resist.
Alexander-Arnold, upon his exit, will relinquish the vice-captaincy - a role Mohamed Salah is understood to be a prime candidate to fill ahead of next season.
Leaving home will carry an emotional burden but a new challenge is on the horizon for Alexander-Arnold.
Madrid is calling.
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Regarding Rufus at 10:47 - Trent should be booed if he steps foot on the pitch during the last three games; this is worse than Michael Owen. We can’t and won’t have a drink with him, because like the banner aimed at Steven Gerrard said, he who betrays will always walk alone, and he’s shown less loyalty as a scouser than an Egyptian and a Dutchman.
Finn
Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
Image source, Getty ImagesSince making his first-team debut for his hometown club in 2016, Trent Alexander-Arnold has gone on to win eight honours with Liverpool.
Image source, Getty Images
Image source, ReutersAlexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold has remained a mainstay of the Liverpool defence during their 35 Premier League games so far this season:
His stats in all competitions during 2024-25 are:
Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold's Premier League record with Liverpool:
In all competitions:
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Dear Trent, you've been a fantastic LFC player and key reason for many trophy wins. But I hope you're not leaving just 'to wear that famous white shirt' or 'to win the Ballon D'Or'. I hope you realise that you're leaving a club with stability, an entire fan base's love, credit in the bank, a team built around your game and club legend status behind. You'll Never Walk Alone in Liverpool...but you might in Madrid. Good luck.
A Sad Red's fan
Just joining? We're reacting to the breaking news that Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season. Here's what we've covered:
And you've been having your say too - keep your reaction coming in as we continue to bring you reaction and updates to this big story.
Trent Alexander-Arnold's exuberant celebration after scoring the only goal of that key game against Leicester last month, which put Liverpool one win away from the Premier League title, caused many to question whether he would in fact be leaving Anfield.
The game's dramatic conclusion was an iconic moment in Alexander-Arnold's storied career at Liverpool, but was it a farewell?
It came days after Virgil van Dijk's decision to join Mohamed Salah in signing a new two-year contract, and also Real Madrid's defeat to Arsenal in the quarter-finals of the Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold again remained tight-lipped about those talks with Real Madrid, but was eager to show his commitment to Liverpool's title challenge.
"I have said all season that I am not going to speak on my situation. I am not going to go into the details," said the England defender after his match-winning goal at King Power Stadium.
"But days like this are always special. Scoring goals, playing games, winning games, winning titles - they are special moments for me and I am glad to do my part."
Image source, Getty ImagesAfter both Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk signed new contracts, Arne Slot suggested that keeping his Liverpool team together would mark a "big summer" for the club.
Before Liverpool's 1-0 win at Leicester on 20 April, which put them on the brink of a second Premier League crown in six seasons, he insisted Trent Alexander-Arnold's future was still "not done".
"It's already a big summer now," said Slot. "It was a big thing - 'can we hold on to them?'.
"And by holding on already to two, it's already a big summer and let's see what the rest of the summer will bring.
"It would be strange for me to say now I'm not happy with the team we have, because I've said it for a year so we are happy with the team we have. Maybe if we can even keep that team that would already be a big summer."
Asked about Alexander-Arnold's situation, head coach Slot said: "Let's see what the future brings."
Image source, Getty ImagesArne Slot's first summer in charge of Liverpool following his appointment as Jurgen Klopp's replacement left fans with more questions than answers about how this new era might take shape.
Federico Chiesa proved to be the club's only signing during the summer window, raising concerns that the squad was short on the necessary numbers and quality to mount a serious title challenge.
The fact that the contracts of three key players - talismanic forward Mohamed Salah, captain Virgil van Dijk and attacking full-back Trent Alexander-Arnold - were all due to end in the summer of 2025 sounded further alarm bells.
But concerns over the squad were melted away by results, as Slot galvanised the players left behind by Klopp into a winning machine.
Yet, even as the Reds juggernaut careered towards a 20th top-flight title, nagging doubts remained about the future, with Salah, Van Dijk and Alexander-Arnold still not signed up for the long-term.
Then a breakthrough - first Salah then Van Dijk signed new two-year deals in April.
There was still no news on Alexander-Arnold as Liverpool prepared for last month's Premier League game at Leicester, but by this point Slot was sounding a different tone...that maybe, just maybe, the full-back could be ready for a change of heart?
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Nobody should begrudge Trent leaving but at least get some money for your club. Mac Allister and Grealish did that for Brighton and Villa. Seriously damaged his legacy here now. Trent will go down as an Owen rather than a Gerrard.
Conor K
Not gonna lie, this one hurts even more than the Klopp news. I clung onto hope in the face of overwhelming odds. But he's a Scouser, as am I. And although his likely destination makes the whole thing even more of a sting, I will wish him well. Because Scousers have to stick together. I will still wear my 'Corner Taken Quickly' t-shirt with pride. I will still recognise him as a club hero. But if he lines up against us, I will still hope he has a stinker! Go with our best wishes, Trent. YNWA.
Christian, broken-hearted in Liverpool
Out of the three players with their contracts up this summer, Trent always felt like the most likely to leave for me. VVD & Salah towards the end of their careers no guarantee they will be afforded the same opportunities wherever they end up. Trent on the other hand, at 26 is in the prime of his career & has achieved everything there is to achieve with Liverpool. Good luck to him, who knows in 4/5 years he could go full circle and come back.
Liam, Suffolk
Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold has just three more games to play in a Liverpool shirt.
First up is a home match against Arsenal on Sunday, before a trip to Brighton on 19 May.
His final match will be back at Anfield against FA Cup finalists Crystal Palace on the final day of the Premier League season.
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Gutted to lose Trent and I’m sure there’ll be some vitriol in some parts but it’s undeserved. He has won it all here and given us incredible moments. We’ll move on but he only gets one career. If he needs a new challenge or new experience he has earned it. Farewell Trent. YNWA.
Paul B
Before the sniping starts, Trent leaves an absolute legend. He won everything there is to win with Liverpool, and gave me some of my best moments as a fan since the 1980s. I wish him all the best.
Em
No one can seriously blame Trent for wanting to test himself in Spain. It hasn't worked out well for many who've mate the change, but Trent is another level. Perhaps people in the UK will finally start to recognise the unbelievable talent Trent is once he's finally left England behind.
Gavin, Bangkok (via Wales)
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Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
“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 new 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.”
“There’s a lot I would like to say. The main thing is a massive thank you. You guys have been there from the start with me, you guys have supported me, been there.
“I’ve felt the support, the love, everything that you guys have done has never been unnoticed by me, I’ve loved every single minute of it. I hope they have felt that has been reciprocated and that I’ve given everything I could to the club.
“I’m just hoping that we’re able to carry on winning games, the noise [around my decision] doesn’t take away from the fact of what we’ve achieved this season.
“It has been an amazing season. It has been amazing to be part of it and I just hope that everyone is able to maybe not dwell on this news for too long and be able to celebrate what the rest of the lads have done.”
Liverpool making clear it was Trent Alexander-Arnold's decision to leave in that statement published on the club's official website.
There were also some more words from Alexander-Arnold - those are coming up now.
Trent Alexander-Arnold to leave Liverpool
Trent Alexander-Arnold has informed Liverpool FC of his intention to leave the club this summer upon the expiry of his current contract.
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.
Alexander-Arnold joined Liverpool’s Academy at the age of six and progressed through the ranks at youth level before making his senior debut in 2016.
He has gone on to make 352 appearances for the Reds to date, scoring 23 goals and lifting eight major honours, including this season’s Premier League title.
Alexander-Arnold will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success.
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Trent has been awesome for LFC. We should all be thankful and wish him the best. When he comes back with another team then we show him all the love before the game, do everything we can to make him lose during the game and then have a drink with him afterwards. That's sport.
Rufus, Camden Town
Sami Mokbel
BBC Sport Senior football correspondent
Trent Alexander-Arnold has confirmed he is leaving Liverpool when his contract expires at the end of the season, with the right-back expected to join Real Madrid on a free transfer.
The defender was widely anticipated to leave Anfield and after months of speculation Alexander-Arnold has confirmed his decision to depart the club he joined as a six-year-old.
Liverpool have also confirmed the player has informed them of his departure to leave.
Alexander-Arnold will now finalise his move to Real Madrid ahead of next season, though it remains to be seen whether the deal can be confirmed in time for the England star to play in the Spanish club’s Club World Cup campaign.
Talks between Alexander-Arnold and Real are at a very advanced stage with sources close to the deal insisting only a hugely unexpected turn of events will prevent the full-back from moving to the Spanish capital.
| Team | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | Goals For | Goals Against | Goal Difference | Points | Form, Last 6 games, Oldest first |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 35 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 81 | 35 | 46 | 82 |
| |
| 35 | 18 | 13 | 4 | 64 | 31 | 33 | 67 |
| |
| 35 | 19 | 7 | 9 | 67 | 43 | 24 | 64 |
| |
| 35 | 19 | 6 | 10 | 66 | 45 | 21 | 63 |
| |
| 35 | 18 | 9 | 8 | 62 | 41 | 21 | 63 |
| |
| 34 | 18 | 6 | 10 | 53 | 41 | 12 | 60 |
| |
| 35 | 17 | 9 | 9 | 55 | 49 | 6 | 60 |
| |
| 35 | 14 | 11 | 10 | 55 | 42 | 13 | 53 |
| |
| 35 | 15 | 7 | 13 | 62 | 53 | 9 | 52 |
| |
| 35 | 13 | 13 | 9 | 57 | 56 | 1 | 52 |
| |
| 35 | 14 | 9 | 12 | 50 | 47 | 3 | 51 |
| |
| 34 | 11 | 12 | 11 | 43 | 47 | -4 | 45 |
| |
| 35 | 12 | 5 | 18 | 51 | 62 | -11 | 41 |
| |
| 35 | 8 | 15 | 12 | 36 | 43 | -7 | 39 |
| |
| 35 | 10 | 9 | 16 | 42 | 51 | -9 | 39 |
| |
| 35 | 11 | 5 | 19 | 63 | 57 | 6 | 38 |
| |
| 35 | 9 | 10 | 16 | 40 | 59 | -19 | 37 |
| |
| 35 | 4 | 10 | 21 | 35 | 76 | -41 | 22 |
| |
| 35 | 5 | 6 | 24 | 29 | 76 | -47 | 21 |
| |
| 35 | 2 | 5 | 28 | 25 | 82 | -57 | 11 |
|
