LIVERPOOL have issued a blunt statement after Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed he would be leaving the club after 20 years.
Alexander-Arnold. 26, broke through the Reds’ Academy into the first team under Jurgen Klopp and emerged into one of the best right-backs in world football.
GettyTrent Alexander-Arnold has announced he is leaving Liverpool after a 20-year association[/caption]
EPAThe Reds issued a blunt statement on the decision[/caption]
His exploits helped Liverpool land two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FA Cup and Carabao Cup.
However, in an emotional statement, the defender announced he would be leaving Liverpool when his contract expires this summer.
The Englishman, who is widely reported to be heading to Real Madrid on a free transfer after agreeing a five-year deal worth £240,000 a week, called it “easily the hardest decision i’ve ever made in my life”.
Liverpool made a statement of their own following the news.
It read: “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…
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“Alexander-Arnold will depart with our gratitude and appreciation for his contribution during a sustained period of success.”
The club added a statement from Alexander-Arnold in the announcement.
Alexander-Arnold said: “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.”
Addressing supporters directly, he continued: “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.”
The Athletic report Alexander-Arnold informed manager Arne Slot of his decision to leave the club in a face-to-face meeting at the club’s Lirby training complex in March after the ankle injury he sustained against Paris Saint-Germain in the Last-16 of the Champions League.
Slot is said to have expressed his disappointment but respected the decision, telling him: “You’re a huge part of this team and let’s end it on a high together.”
Alexander-Arnold then replied: “My mindset and commitment won’t change. I’ll continue to give everything for this club until the final day.”
The report adds how fractures began appearing last season when he was left unsettled by fresh contract talks only starting last April.
He said to have understood the circumstances of why this was the case due to new sporting director Richard Hughes only just starting his new role, but privately wondered if the 2024/25 season would be his final one at Anfield.
Hughes’ first call in the job was to Alexander-Arnold’s camp before subsequent offers to him would have made the defender the best paid defender in the Premier League.
But ultimately, his exit appeared to help pave the way for the club signing new and improved deals with Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk, with the pair now reportedly earning £400,000-per-week each.
In a separate statement directly on social media, Alexander-Arnold said: “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.
“I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven’t spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team’s best interests, which was securing No.20.
“This club has been my whole life – my whole world – for 20 years.
“From the Academy right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. I will forever be in debt to you all.
“But, I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally.
“I’ve given my all every single day I’ve been at this club, and I hope you feel like I’ve given back to you during my time here.
“From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody – my coaches, my managers, my team-mates, the staff and our incredible supporters – for the last 20 years.
“I’ve been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I’ve been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all.
“My love for this club will never die.”
Alexander-Arnold’s expected move to Real Madrid in the summer could happen BEFORE the Club World Cup, though this would mean the Spanish side need to fork out a transfer fee to secure his services in time for the Fifa competition being held in the United States.
He will be joining fellow England international and close friend Jude Bellingham in Madrid after he joined the club for £115million in July 2023.
What happened to the Englishmen who joined Real Madrid?
TRENT ALEXANDER-ARNOLD looks set to join Real Madrid this summer and will join an exclusive club to pull on the famous white jersey.
So had 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” alongside Cyrille Regis and Brendon Batson, 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.
After hanging up his boots, McManaman worked as a pundit for Setanta Sports, BT Sport and ESPN.
Now 53, he can regularly be seen on TNT Sports’ football coverage, especially when Liverpool or Real Madrid are playing.
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; including the likes of Adidas, Armani, Pepsi and the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.
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 flogging 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 signed up to be BT Sport’s primary co-commentator upon the channel’s launch.
In addition to his punditry work, the former striker has enjoyed several other ventures.
Owen, 45, has his own clothing range with Peacocks, while he also 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 under Michael Carrick.
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 soon to be alongside him, Bellingham will feel that he can add plenty more to his already impressive trophy tally.
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