In the summer of 2025, defender Trent Alexander-Arnold officially left Liverpool. He was originally scheduled to leave on a free transfer, but the Reds eventually agreed quickly to pay him £10 million. As for Real Madrid, they will soon have an English defender to serve when playing at the Club World Cup.
The 26-year-old defender's decision was met with fierce criticism from a Liverpool fan base. They thought he lacked clarity on the contract status and left the club in a passive position.
Liverpool president Tom Werner has not blamed Alexander-Arnold for this parting ways. He shared: "We respect Trent's departure. I just want him to know that personally, we and the club are grateful for all his contributions.
I saw a photo of Trent when he was seven years old, when he was a child in the academy. I really like everything he has done. But when he wants to go and we will have a replacement.
Werner also recalled Alexander-Arnold's unforgettable moment at Anfield. That was a quick corner kick that helped Divock Origi score against Barcelona, in the legendary 2019 Champions League semi-final. He said that made Real Madrid even happier to buy the English defender, because of their rivalry with Barcelona.
"I will never forget the pass he made, the corner kick he took, to score the fourth goal against Barcelona. It was just a genie... it's no surprise that Real Madrid were so happy," Tom concluded.
