Trent Alexander-Arnold, 26, has secured his place at Real Madrid and will be playing for the team starting with the Club World Cup, which kicks off on June 14. The English full-back will strengthen a position that has been particularly weakened at the Bernabéu since Dani Carvajal’s injury last October.
Trent Alexander-Arnold, a fast ‘all-rounder’ for Real Madrid’s defense
His absence has caused headaches for both Ancelotti and the replacements he has used, mainly Fede Valverde and Lucas Vázquez throughout the season. What is known about the player is that he will be linked to the Whites for the next six seasons, from June 1, 2025, to June 30, 2031.
According to reports, the cost of the deal is up to €10 million, as although the full-back was a free agent as of June 30, Real Madrid wanted to have him available for the Club World Cup. With all this, the club of new coach Xabi Alonso has secured Alexander-Arnold, who is currently the most valuable right-back in the world.
In fact, the player is being labeled a luxury signing, a galáctico, even though he plays right back and is arriving on a free transfer. There, he was and is the kid who grew up in Liverpool’s former training ground, Melwood, and who came up through all the club’s youth ranks before making his first-team debut in the 2015/2016 season.
Star signing at the Bernabéu
At Anfield, he was always allowed to do everything because he was and is a Scouser, a Liverpool man from birth. At the Bernabéu, he will be expected to step up a gear. Another level… for what is considered the best right-back pairing in the world: Alexander-Arnold and Dani Carvajal.
The Three Lions international has been a special case. As he was under contract with Liverpool until June 30 and also had to collect his last paycheck, a compensation agreement was reached with the English club for around €5 million. To this must be added the signing bonus, which was no less than €20 million.
In any case, even though it seems to have come at a bad time, or a little late, the truth is that it hasn’t. Because even though the 2021 and 2023 seasons were better than the last one, the 26-year-old is still among the top full-backs in the world, if not the best.
Alexander-Arnold is the most valuable full-back in the world, worth €75 million
This is also reflected in his financial figures. According to Transfermarkt, Alexander-Arnold is currently the highest-valued full-back in the world, and especially in his position: he is valued at €75 million. The England international is the most highly valued right-back ahead of Real Madrid’s Achraf Hakimi (€65 million).
In addition to Achraf Hakimi, Alexander-Arnold is ahead of Barça’s Jules Koundé (€60 million), Timber (€50 million), White (€50 million), Spain’s Pedro Porro (€45 million), Lewis (€40 million), Gray (€35 million), Gusto (€35 million) and Livramento (€35 million).
He is a vital player for Real Madrid, competing with Dani Carvajal. The Spanish full-back was also considered the most valuable player in the world in 2018, reaching €60 million. Now, especially after his fateful injury, the Leganés native is close to €10 million.
His legendary play against Barça in the Champions League
In addition to his great speed, he is as accurate as he is powerful on set pieces. He takes direct and side free kicks. He also takes corner kicks. He loves to connect with balls that come to him from the sky. With his constant movement, he sometimes disrupts his team, but his anarchic spirit also destroys his opponents. In attack, he can appear anywhere, where he thrives when he gets inside and can deliver passes, nutmegs, and one-two passes. This is how Alexander-Arnold understands the game.
We saw this, for example, in the match between Barça and Liverpool in the Champions League in the 2018/2019 season. It was a match that marked a turning point for the Catalan club. It happened from a quick corner kick by Trent in Liverpool’s comeback. That moment, which made it 4-0 at Anfield and sealed the Reds’ passage to the final, not only changed the fate of that tie, but also catapulted the career of the young English full-back, now a brand new signing for Real Madrid.
It was a quick move from the corner by the Englishman with the entire Barça defense caught napping. Origi finished first time in front of the Blaugrana goal after receiving a legendary assist from Alexander-Arnold that sank Barcelona. Liverpool, then managed by Jürgen Klopp, qualified for the final in Madrid, which they won against Tottenham to claim their sixth Champions League title. Today, he is now playing for Real Madrid.