Trent Alexander-Arnold announces Liverpool exit
Trent Alexander-Arnold announced he will leave Liverpool at the end of the season when his contract with the club expires.
Defender Alexander-Arnold, who has been with the Reds since signing at the age of six in 2004, has been heavily linked with a move to Real Madrid this summer.
The England international has made 352 appearances for Liverpool across all competitions, scoring 23 goals and notching an astonishing 92 assists.
Alexander-Arnold helped Liverpool to eight major honours, including the Champions League and this year's Premier League title, which was the second top-flight crown of his career.
The 26 year-old has registered more assists (64) than any other defender in Premier League history, five more than team-mate Andy Robertson in second.
Leighton Baines (85) is the only player to have more goal contributions among defenders in the English top-flight than Alexander-Arnold (82).
Alexander-Arnold has created 514 chances in the Premier League, 194 of which have come from set-pieces. Only Baines (635 and 232 respectively) has more.
Alexander-Arnold started this season as one of the three key Liverpool players who were due to be out of contract after the 2024-2025 campaign.
While the club managed to extend star forward Mohamed Salah and captain Virgil van Dijk's deals by two years, it will lose Alexander-Arnold for no fee.
"After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season," Alexander-Arnold said in a statement posted to X.
"This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life.
"I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven't spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team's best interests, which was securing [league title] No.20.
"This club has been my whole life – my whole world - for 20 years. From the Academy right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. I will forever be in debt to you all.
"But, I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally.
"I've given my all every single day I've been at this club, and I hope you feel like I've given back to you during my time here.
"From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody – my coaches, my managers, my teammates, the staff and our incredible supporters - for the last 20 years.
"I've been blessed enough to live out my dreams here, and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I've been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all.
"My love for this club will never die."
