Trent Alexander-Arnold will be officially unveiled as a Real Madrid player on Thursday ahead of the Club World Cup, and the right-back will be forced to wear a new shirt number
10:24, 12 Jun 2025Updated 10:47, 12 Jun 2025
Trent Alexander-Arnold plays during the match between the national teams of Andorra and England, corresponding to Matchday 3 A of Group K of the World Cup Qualifying, at the RCDE Stadium in Barcelona, Spain, on June 7, 2025. (Photo by Joan Valls/Urbanandsport/NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold's shirt number at Real Madrid has been confirmed(Image: NurPhoto, NurPhoto via Getty Images)
Trent Alexander-Arnold will wear the No. 12 shirt at Real Madrid, as La Liga regulations prevent him from keeping the same 66 from his Liverpool days, and he'll also have a new name on his kit.
The England star, 26, is set to be officially introduced as a Real Madrid player on Thursday after sealing a £10million transfer. Initially set to join on a free transfer, Los Blancos paid a fee to ensure the Reds academy product could play for them in the FIFA Club World Cup, rather than waiting until the end of his contract.
Alexander-Arnold has worn the No. 66 throughout his tenure at the Premier League champions, but that number won't follow him to Spain after his controversial departure from his boyhood club, after running his contract down and being booed by sections of the Anfield crowd.
This is due to La Liga rules stipulating that first-team players must wear a shirt number between one and 25, with No.13 and 25 specifically earmarked for goalkeepers.
As well as wearing the No. 12 for his new club in the upcoming season, the defender will also have his first name, Trent, on his shirt instead of his surname.
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - MAY 25: Curtis Jones and Trent Alexander-Arnold of Liverpool during the Premier League match between Liverpool FC and Crystal Palace FC at Anfield on May 25, 2025 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Sebastian Frej/Getty Images)
Alexander-Arnold has had to ditch his No.66 shirt(Image: Sebastian Frej, Getty Images)
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Fans poked fun at the decision on social media, with one saying: "Actually “Trent” on the back? Does he thinks he’s Brazilian?" A second Liverpool fan quipped: "That would have been Ratinho." While a Chelsea fan added: "I chose the number 12 because I’m half the player Reece James is."
Another mocked: "It's clear he's heading to Real Madrid to build his own brand, no doubt about that but “Alexander-Arnold 66” was iconic. “Trent 12”, no trolling, it's awful."
The No. 12 has a rich history in Madrid, having been worn for over a decade by Bernabeu legend Marcelo. The Brazilian left-back made the number his own during a trophy-studded 16-year stint in the Spanish capital.
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Eduardo Camavinga briefly wore the number before switching to No. 6 last season.
Since making the move to Madrid, Alexander-Arnold has swiftly changed his Instagram handle to remove the number 66, now going by just @trent.
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Los Blancos begin Xabi Alonso's era as manager against Al Hilal on Wednesday in the Club World Cup. Their other two group games see them play Pachuca and RB Salzburg.