Negotiations are said to be in the advanced stages
Associate Editor
2 MIN READ
Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Real Madrid
Trent Alexander-Arnold looks set to join Real Madrid
AFP
Real Madrid are reportedly closing in on a major coup, as they work to secure Liverpool’s Trent Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer this summer.
Negotiations are said to be in the advanced stages and while no agreement has been signed yet, sources suggest the groundwork for the deal is nearing completion.
The 26-year-old has spent his entire career at Liverpool, where he rose through the academy ranks to make over 300 appearances and win every major club trophy.
He has redefined the role of a full-back with his extraordinary creative contributions in that time, but with his contract set to expire in three months, the opportunity to move to Madrid is set to showcase his unique skill set to the Santiago Bernabéu.
Real Madrid’s interest in Alexander-Arnold has been two years in the making. The club views him as a transformative addition to their squad, offering unparalleled creativity from deeper areas of the pitch.
In a team that thrives on technical brilliance and tactical versatility, Alexander-Arnold’s ability to dictate play from right-back aligns perfectly with their footballing philosophy.
Alexander-Arnold’s attacking statistics are nothing short of remarkable. Since his Premier League debut in 2016, he has created 514 chances—a tally bettered only by Manchester City’s Kevin De Bruyne. For context, this is 22% more than any other defender, with his Liverpool teammate Andrew Robertson trailing on 421. His influence extends far beyond set-pieces; Alexander-Arnold excels in open play, ranking sixth among Premier League players for chances created from open play since the 2018/19 season.
Known for his ability to “play any pass he can see,” Alexander-Arnold has delivered 88 through-balls and 2,593 passes into the opposition box during his Premier League career - the highest among all players. His total of 64 Premier League assists is a record for a defender, and his expected assists (xA) metric—58.67 since 2018/19—places him ahead of creative luminaries like Bruno Fernandes and Mohamed Salah.
At Real Madrid, Alexander-Arnold would offer more than just a defensive presence. His ability to orchestrate attacks from deep would add a new dimension to Carlo Ancelotti’s system, allowing the team to stretch opponents and exploit spaces with pinpoint switches of play.
His cross-field passes, a hallmark of Liverpool’s strategy, would complement Madrid’s dynamic wingers and ensure a steady supply of chances from the right flank.
Moreover, Alexander-Arnold’s versatility makes him an ideal fit for Real Madrid’s fluid tactical approach. While he is nominally a full-back, his role often resembles that of a playmaker, capable of dictating tempo and creating opportunities in all phases of play. This adaptability would provide Ancelotti with a unique tactical weapon, capable of impacting games in multiple ways.
Defensively, Alexander-Arnold’s numbers may not grab headlines in the same way as his attacking stats, but his awareness and work rate remain valuable assets. In a team like Real Madrid, where possession dominance is a given, his ability to recover the ball quickly and transition into attack would further enhance the team’s efficiency.
For Alexander-Arnold, the switch to Real Madrid offers a fresh challenge and the chance to continue developing his game on one of football’s grandest stages. For Real Madrid, it represents an opportunity to secure a generational talent whose skill set is unmatched in modern football.
With his creativity, vision, and tactical intelligence, Alexander-Arnold has the potential to become a cornerstone of Real Madrid’s next great era.