Liverpool have agreed to allow Trent Alexander-Arnold to join Real Madrid earlier than planned in a deal valued at £10 million.
The right-back was initially scheduled to join the 15-time European champions on a free transfer when his contract expired on June 30. However, the La Liga giants expressed a desire to have him available for the Club World Cup.
The expanded Club World Cup tournament, taking place in the USA, begins 16 days prior to Alexander-Arnold`s contract expiry date. This timing meant he would not have been eligible to be registered for the competition under his previous contract.
To secure the player a month ahead of schedule, Madrid agreed to pay a fee equivalent to over £300,000 per day for the 26-year-old`s early release.
The player, a two-time Premier League winner, is set to make the move once the special transfer window designated for the Club World Cup opens on Sunday, June 1.
Real Madrid will make a single payment of £8.4 million (€10 million) to Liverpool and cover Alexander-Arnold`s June wages, bringing the total value of the early release deal to £10 million (€11.9 million).
Madrid`s initial offer was significantly lower, at just £840,000, but Liverpool insisted on a higher fee.
Reports suggest Alexander-Arnold will sign a six-year contract with Real Madrid, earning £240,000 per week. His release clause is reportedly set at a massive €1 billion, equivalent to £840 million.
A statement released by Liverpool confirmed: “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.”
“Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool with the club appreciative and grateful for his contribution to those successes.”
Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti reportedly wanted Alexander-Arnold available for their first Club World Cup match against Al-Hilal in Miami on June 18.
FIFA established a special transfer window, running from June 1 to June 10, specifically to allow clubs participating in the Club World Cup to register players.
Madrid`s apparent injury concerns at the right-back position are believed to be a primary reason for their urgency in securing the player early.
Midfielder Federico Valverde has been filling in at right-back due to an injury sustained by Dani Carvajal.
Alexander-Arnold is scheduled to join the England national squad next week ahead of their World Cup qualifier against Andorra.
England are also scheduled to play a friendly match against Senegal in Nottingham a few days later.
Liverpool fans had expressed frustration about losing a world-class player for free, with some booing the homegrown star during a match against Arsenal last month.
Alexander-Arnold received a more positive send-off on the final day of the season and was visibly emotional after 20 years with the club.
He departs Anfield having made 354 appearances and scored 23 goals for Liverpool, securing eight major honours during his time at the club.
His trophy haul with his boyhood club includes two Premier League titles, the Champions League, the Fifa Club World Cup, the Uefa Super Cup, the FA Cup, and two League Cups.
What happened to the Englishmen who joined Real Madrid?
With his move now complete, Trent Alexander-Arnold joins an exclusive group of Englishmen to have played for Real Madrid.
So how 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”, 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.
Now 53, he can regularly be seen on football coverage.
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.
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 selling 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 began punditry work.
In addition to his punditry work, the former striker has enjoyed several other ventures, including a clothing range and television appearances.
Owen, 45, has his own clothing range and 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.
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 now alongside him, Bellingham will feel that he can add plenty more to his already impressive trophy tally.
