Real Madrid pay fee to sign Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool before Club World Cup

MADRID – Real Madrid have signed Trent Alexander-Arnold on a six-year deal, the La Liga club said on May 30, paying Liverpool a fee to release the England defender from his contract a month early to allow him to join them before the Club World Cup.

Alexander-Arnold, who has been with Liverpool since he was six and made 354 appearances for the Premier League side since his senior debut in 2016, said earlier this month he would leave the club once his contract expired on June 30.

However, Real have signed the 26-year-old before his Liverpool contract ended, making him available for the Club World Cup from June 14-July 13 in the United States.

“Liverpool will receive a fee for his services, with the deal to be concluded once the window opens on June 1,” Liverpool said in a statement.

British media reported that Real paid the Premier League champions €10 million (S$14.6 million).

Newly appointed Real coach Xabi Alonso will hope Alexander-Arnold’s inclusion solves the club’s defensive woes, with right-back Daniel Carvajal among five defenders out with injuries.

Real, who failed to retain their La Liga and Champions League titles this season, played winger Lucas Vazquez at right-back for most of the campaign due to the injury crisis.

With 33-year-old Carvajal entering the twilight of his career, Alexander-Arnold will be seen as part of Real's succession plan.

Alexander-Arnold, who can also play in midfield, scored 23 goals and provided 92 assists for Liverpool in his senior career.

He has scored four goals for England.

Born in Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold rose through the youth ranks to become one of the best right-backs in the world.

He has won two Premier League titles, the Champions League and the Club World Cup with the English team.

He frequently played in a hybrid midfield role for Liverpool in recent seasons, operating as a fullback when out of possession but moving into midfield during attacks.

He bid a tearful farewell to his boyhood club as he collected his second Premier League winner's medal on May 25.

"Alexander-Arnold leaves Liverpool FC with the club appreciative and grateful for his contribution to those successes," Liverpool added.

He joins England teammate Jude Bellingham at Real, who have signed famous Englishmen in the past like Steve McManaman, David Beckham and Michael Owen.

Premier League clubs agreed to open a transfer window on June 1 for 10 days to allow teams to sign players before the Club World Cup, with Manchester City likely to beef up their squad too.

City chairman Khaldoon Al Mubarak said they will be ready with a new squad in time for the continental showpiece and that their transfers will be very swift.

“We have clearly identified who exactly are the targets, in what positions, and we have our clear No. 1 option, our clear No. 2 option,” Al Mubarak said in an interview with City’s club media channels.

“And we’ll go about our business and it will be very clear, very swift. And our objective is to try to be ready with the new squad for the Club World Cup.”

Lyon playmaker Rayan Cherki, AC Milan midfielder Tijjani Reijnders and Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White are among those linked with a move to the Etihad.

Meanwhile, Serie A champions Napoli are close to signing Kevin de Bruyne as a free agent, said their sporting director Giovanni Manna.

The Belgian, 33, had just ended a 10-year spell at City, where he won six Premier League titles and the 2023 Champions League. REUTERS