Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced that he will depart from Liverpool at the conclusion of the season, amidst rumors of a transfer to Real Madrid.

In a stunning revelation, Trent Alexander-Arnold has announced that he will hang up his Liverpool boots at the conclusion of the 2024/25 season. The two-time Premier League champion took to social media on Monday to share the news, with reports suggesting a move to Real Madrid on a free transfer this summer is on the cards.

The England international has made a remarkable 352 appearances for Liverpool, contributing 23 goals and 92 assists, primarily from his right-back position. Reflecting on his decision to leave, the 26-year-old expressed the emotional weight behind it. “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,” he stated.

Having spent two decades at the club, Alexander-Arnold continued, “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 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.”

During his time at Anfield, Alexander-Arnold has been instrumental in securing eight titles, including two Premier League trophies and the club’s historic sixth Champions League victory. As his contract nears its end, the player has been candid about his decision amidst speculation regarding a potential new deal.

“Obviously there’s been a lot of noise around what the decision was going to be and how that was going to look,” he remarked on the Liverpool website. “I know a lot of people will say I should have said sooner, a lot of people will say maybe I waited for the right time. But I felt personally the focus should always be on the pitch, should always be about the football.”

He added, “When we were in a title race and trying to push for trophies, it’s about making the right decision for the team and trying not to distract the team and take away from what we’re doing on the pitch. For me, it was always to do it after the season was kind of done; not so much the final game but when there was nothing else really to play for.”

Now that Liverpool has clinched the league title, Alexander-Arnold felt it was the right moment to share his news with the fans. “Now that we’ve won the league and we’ve been able to celebrate it and celebrate such an amazing achievement, I felt like now is the right time to get it off my chest and tell the fans the truth, and now is that time.”

Despite the impending move, Alexander-Arnold admitted that he had considered staying at Anfield. “Remaining at Liverpool under Arne Slot was 100% on the table,” he explained. “I’ve got full confidence in the manager and the staff and the club going forward. It’s not about me thinking we’re not going to fight for titles or fight for trophies season in, season out because I knew from the first few moments with the manager that he was a winner.”

However, he ultimately decided that a fresh challenge was necessary for his personal and professional growth. “I feel like a challenge in a different environment is something I need to do as a player,” he stated.

Understandably, the news has not been well received by all Liverpool supporters. Alexander-Arnold, a boyhood fan of the club, acknowledged the frustrations surrounding his departure. “I’ve been a fan of this club my whole life, it has given me the opportunity to go and do everything I’ve done,” he said. “So, I understand that. Growing up, seeing players leave that I’ve loved watching and have helped the team win trophies, you feel a connection to the players that you watch.”

He continued, “I completely understand the feelings that go with that and I’ve felt it myself so I completely understand that the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset. Obviously that went into the decision as well – it’s something you don’t want to do, you don’t want to ever have these moments where you feel like you’re letting a lot of people down.”

In closing, Alexander-Arnold emphasized the importance of making a decision that was right for him. “It’s a difficult one, it’s one that has played on my mind for a long time but being able now to get it off my chest will feel like a weight is lifted. And I think it’s important for the fans to know where I stand and know what the truth is.”