Trent Alexander-Arnold was officially introduced as a Real Madrid player on Thursday. The 26-year-old has inked a six-year contract after Los Blancos paid $11.5 million to release him from his expiring contract.
The Reds academy product rejected an extended deal at Anfield in pursuit of a fresh challenge. As one of three unresolved high-profile contract situations at L4, Alexander-Arnold's future became increasingly uncertain during their title-winning campaign.
Liverpool will attempt to defend its Premier League title next season without one of its key creative forces. However, Arne Slot has acted swiftly to address the departure, bringing in Jeremie Frimpong from Bayer Leverkusen.
Following the announcement, Alexander-Arnold took to Instagram to celebrate his new home, sharing a series of photos with family and friends captioned: "Family is everything [white heart emoji]."
His post received numerous comments and likes from his former Liverpool teammates, including Egyptian superstar Salah, who notably extended his stay at Anfield following a stellar campaign that inspired the Reds to their second top-flight crown in five years.
Salah's response was simple, replying with two red heart emojis. During his press conference with reporters, the England right-back admitted that deciding to move to Real Madrid from the Reds wasn't easy.
"I mean, to be honest, it was never a question of where - it was always whether to go or not," he said.
Trent Alexander-Arnold on Instagram.
Trent Alexander-Arnold on Instagram. (Image: Trent/Instagram)
"I always knew, for me, I have probably known for a long time is that if I was to ever leave Liverpool, it would only be for Real Madrid.
"They are the only club for me and then it gets to a point where you have to make a decision to go or stay. It wasn't easy, I am not going to say it was.
"I had been there so long and a part of it but, eventually, you have to make a decision - and I have made the right one in my mind and I am excited about."
Alexander-Arnold is set to make his debut for Real Madrid during their campaign in the revamped Club World Cup, which kicks off against Al-Hilal. He will don the number 12 jersey with 'Trent' emblazoned on the back instead of his surname.
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After his signing, Real Madrid president Florentino Perez said: "You’ll quickly understand what Real Madrid is all about. Every trophy is just a step toward winning the next one, and the next is the Club World Cup, which kicks off this weekend in the United States. It’s our most immediate challenge.
“This is your first challenge in a club where certain values are sacred values that have made us the best club in the world."