Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced that he will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season, with a potential move to Real Madrid looming.
“This is easily the hardest decision I’ve ever made in my life,” Alexander-Arnold said in a heartfelt message on social media.
The 26-year-old England defender will depart as a free agent after spending 20 years at the Liverpool academy and first team, amassing 352 appearances and winning numerous titles, including two Premier League titles, the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup, and Club World Cup trophies in 2019.
Alexander-Arnold’s departure comes after Liverpool extended contracts for key players Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, but failed to secure a new deal for the right-back despite offering him the highest salary for a full-back in the Premier League and world football.
In an interview with LFC TV, Alexander-Arnold revealed that his decision to leave was driven by a desire for a new challenge.
“It just boiled down to what I felt I needed, and that is a change. That’s something I need to do on my personal journey as a person, but also as a player and a professional, to go and challenge myself elsewhere,” he stated.
Alexander-Arnold’s potential move to Real Madrid would see him join forces with England teammate Jude Bellingham, with Kylian Mbappe, a key player for the Spanish club, briefly reacting to the news before deleting his response.
Liverpool manager Arne Slot reportedly took Alexander-Arnold’s decision to leave with class, understanding the player’s desire for a new challenge.