Trent Alexander-Arnold agrees to join Real Madrid with defender to end 20-year Liverpool association

Trent Alexander-Arnold has agreed to join Real Madrid this summer, talkSPORT understands.

The Liverpool star will leave Anfield after agreeing personal terms over a five-year deal worth in excess of £220,000-per-week with the Spanish giants in a seismic blow to Arne Slot's side.

The England international has been in discussions with Real since January. Liverpool rejected an approach from the Spanish club during the window.

Alexander-Arnold is out of contract this summer - a situation that means that the defender is able to move on a free transfer.

Despite months of negotiations, the 26-year-old has opted to move to Madrid where he'll be playing his football from next term.

For supporters, the news will come as a huge disappointment to lose someone who has been a cornerstone of their team during one of the most successful periods in recent history.

As well as being a boyhood Liverpool fan, Alexander-Arnold is regarded as one of the top right-backs in world football.

He helped them win the Premier League and Champions League under Jurgen Klopp's much-revered reign.

In addition to losing a quality player to a European rival, the fact that he's leaving for free will rub extra salt in the wounds.

Alexander-Arnold has been part of a trio of stars out of contract at the end of the season alongside Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah.

Salah has been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia, however, it is understood that Saudi dealmakers are not in active talks with the Egypt star.

Liverpool remain optimistic of keeping both Salah and Van Dijk beyond the end of the season.

Alexander-Arnold, however, will be leaving in the summer.

Addressing his future back in September, the defender had hinted at building an Anfield legacy.

"I have always said I want to captain the club,” he told Sky Sports. "That is a goal of mine, whether that happens is out of my hands.”

Quizzed on what will decide his future, Alexander-Arnold said: “The most important thing is always trophies. I want to win trophies.

"We were close to the title last season and we got a cup. The [quadruple] was on for a while I suppose.

"This season we are looking really good, it is still early days, but we need a lot of consistency.

“It will be difficult but we are looking to win as many trophies as we can."

Breaking the news live on talkSPORT, chief football correspondent Alex Crook said: “Unlike Mo Salah, he’s not really commented publicly on his contract situation.

“I think he’s tried to be as respectful as possible and he didn’t want to cause any sort of distraction to Liverpool’s title challenge.”

Crook added: “I think he’ll go with his head held high.

“I know that there will be some Liverpool fans who are disappointed with the decision to leave his hometown club but the lure of Real Madrid is too strong for most players.”

Reacting to the news, Simon Jordan insisted that he's not surprised to see the deal being done.

He told talkSPORT: "I said a year ago, or at least at the start of this season that Trent would be going to Real Madrid, done deal.

So, it's no surprise to me that that's the case.

He's a going concern, he's a resalable asset, whereas Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah are probably not as much."

He continued: "I think Salah will sign and I think Van Dijk will sign...I never thought that Trent would re-sign for Liverpool.

The conundrum now for Liverpool is the disappointment.

"They've taken a commercial view that to extract what they wanted from Trent was more valuable than getting a transfer fee earlier on in his contract."

“I feel that he is in a position where he’s done everything at Liverpool. He’s won everything. He’s given them a lot.

"I would have liked for them to get some money for him, personally. For PSR and things like that but it’s been a wonderful exchange.

"It’s somebody who’s come through the youth system. He’s been captain of his boyhood club, he’s won everything with his boyhood club.

"Now, he’s not leaving to go to any other team, he’s going to Real Madrid, the biggest team in world football.

"So, I think it’s perfect for him and fair play to him, he’s earned that right in my opinion.”

Real Madrid have been prioritising a move for a right-back this summer.

With Dani Carvajal suffering a serious ACL injury, Carlo Ancelotti's side have been short of quality in that area.

Lucas Vazquez has regularly featured there, but at 33 years of age and with a contract that expires this summer, it's likely that he'll be allowed to move on at the end of the season.

Fede Valverde has also slotted into the role this term; however, a move for Alexander-Arnold would allow him to occupy his preferred midfield role as the Spanish giants look to the future.

Of course, Alexander-Arnold's move to Madrid would see him reunited with close friend and England teammate, Jude Bellingham.

But a move away from Liverpool will undoubtedly be a decision that was not taken lightly.

Alexander-Arnold has been at Liverpool for 20 years, having first joined the club's academy in 2004 aged six.

He has gone on to make a total of 349 appearances for the Reds since breaking into the first-team under Jurgen Klopp.

In those matches, Alexander-Arnold has scored 22 goals and added 87 assists from right-back.

Meanwhile, he has also won eight trophies, including the Champions League, Club World Cup and Premier League.

The 26-year-old will now be hoping to add another Premier League title to his name with Arne Slot's side running away in the title race.

Having been forced off with an ankle injury during the clash with Paris Saint-Germain, it's unclear when Alexander-Arnold will return to action.

It is expected that he will return before the end of the season where he'll be keen to say farewell to the Kop at Anfield.

Whether he'll be given a fond farewell, however, remains to be seen.

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