To the surprise of virtually nobody, Trent Alexander-Arnold confirmed that he will be leaving Liverpool when his contract expires this summer. Although it has been football’s worst-kept secret in recent months, now that it has been made official, we wanted to assess the departure and what impact it might have on both the player and the club he’s leaving.
Why Is Trent Leaving?
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.
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… pic.twitter.com/emAw5RvXq0
— Trent Alexander-Arnold (@TrentAA) May 5, 2025
Having just won another Premier League title with the Reds and seen fellow teammates Mohamed Salah and Virgil van Dijk sign new contracts, many fans have been wondering why Alexander-Arnold wants to depart. This is his boyhood club after all, one at which he has spent the last two decades, and the side looks set to challenge for trophies again next season.
In his own words, the Englishman wants a different environment and a new challenge elsewhere. This is the only public reason he gave, although it is possible money had a part to play, too. Big players signing for a club on a free transfer regularly receive a hefty signing-on bonus as there is no transfer fee to pay. When signing for Real Madrid, Kylian Mbappé agreed to a signing-on bonus worth €125m split over five seasons.
Admittedly, this was a particularly lucrative fee but still, Trent can negotiate a handsome package as a free agent, given how in-demand he is.
Where Will Trent Go?
Although he did not explicitly mention a destination in his farewell statement, it seems a virtual certainty that Trent is bound for Real Madrid. It is one of the few teams that could provide an exciting new challenge for a player already enjoying so much success. The only question is when will he leave, rather than where he’ll go, as reliable reports have suggested that Real would like to sign him before the Club World Cup begins in mid-June. Doing this would require a transfer fee, however, as Trent’s contract with Liverpool expires two weeks later.
It is expected that any such offer from the Spaniards would be small, in the region of £1m, but even this may tempt Liverpool as it is better than the fee of absolute zero they’ll get otherwise.
Trent Leaves Uniquely Shaped Hole Behind
Few people claim that Alexander-Arnold is an elite right back from a defensive point of view. He is fairly weak in the air, his one-versus-one defending against pacy wingers is mediocre and his desire to get forward often means he can be caught out of position. While some fans have a tendency to overblow his defensive vulnerabilities, it is reasonable to say he is not among the world’s best in this regard.
As an attacking right back, however, Trent is as good as they come thanks to his vision, technical ability and passing range. Some of the chances he has created while at Liverpool rival those you would see from even the best number 10s. It is very rare you see a player with such unbelievable technique, who can consistently hit the ball so cleanly.
This world-class ability on the ball has seen Trent register 64 assists in the Premier League and 18 goals. Working out as a goal contribution every 3.1 matches in the English top flight, this is not the sort of contribution you would ever normally expect to see from a defender. Compared with all fullbacks, here is how Trent ranks across several metrics (over the past year).
| Stat | Percentile |
|---|---|
| Assists | 87% |
| Expected assisted goals | 97% |
| Shot-Creating Actions | 95% |
| Progressive Passes | 99% |
| Progressing Passing Distance | 99% |
| Passes Attempted | 96% |
| Passes Completed (Long) | 99% |
| Expected Assists | 94% |
| Key Passes | 94% |
| Passes Into Penalty Area | 99% |
| Total Shots | 99% |
He has managed these truly elite figures despite not having a particularly great year by his own high standards. Having made nine goal contributions at the time of writing for the 2024/25 Premier League season, he has only posted fewer than this once since becoming a regular in the starting eleven.
Can Conor Bradley Fill the Gap?
Although it must hurt seeing such a valuable player leave on a free transfer, Liverpool are in a fortunate position that they might not have to pay anything to replace Trent. In Conor Bradley, they have another excellent right back who has already shown real ability despite being just 21 years old. The only reason Bradley has not enjoyed more Liverpool appearances is that he has been behind Trent in the pecking order, rather than it being a matter of quality (something confirmed by Arne Slot).
With the only barrier to more minutes out of the way, Bradley is firmly expected to become Liverpool’s first-choice right-back next season. The club may decide to dip into the transfer market and pick up someone more experienced, but finding a significant upgrade on Bradley will not only be very difficult but would cost a bucketload of cash. Should any transfer activity occur, it is likely that the club will sign someone to be Bradley’s backup.
As much as Bradley seems perfectly ready to play a more prominent role next season – he is not Trent Alexander-Arnold. The two men are very different right-backs as with the former you have arguably the more well-rounded defender. Bradley is much better in the air, makes fewer defensive errors and is better at driving forwards with the ball at his feet.
What Bradley does not offer though is Trent’s world-class passing range and vision. The Northern Irishman is not weak in this regard but in Trent Liverpool had an unbelievable playmaker, one of the best passers in world football. While Bradley is perfectly adept at making short and medium passes, long passes are not really part of his repertoire. A comparison table of the two men highlights some of their biggest differences (stats based on the last 365 days).
| Conor Bradley Percentile | Stat | Trent Alexander-Arnold Percentile |
|---|---|---|
| 46% | Expected assisted goals | 97% |
| 54% | Shot-Creating Actions | 95% |
| 56% | Progressive Passes | 99% |
| 54% | Progressing Passing Distance | 99% |
| 27% | Passes Attempted (Long) | 99% |
| 14% | Passes Completed (Long) | 99% |
| 36% | Key Passes | 94% |
| 79% | Aerials Won | 1% |
| 98% | Progressive Carries | 45% |
| 98% | Carries Into Penalty Area | 54% |
| 55% | Clearances | 20% |
| 87% | Errors | 1% |
Impossible to Replace
Trent Alexander-Arnold has informed Liverpool FC of his intention to leave the club this summer upon the expiry of his current contract.
— Liverpool FC (@LFC) May 5, 2025
Trent may face a frosty reception should he return to Anfield, as many fans have not taken his departure particularly well. While some have wished him the best, others feel betrayed and believe that their vice-captain has handled the situation poorly. As the argument on how Liverpool fans ‘should’ feel continues, Real Madrid look set to confirm their signature of the 26-year-old.
How he will fair in the often unforgiving environment of Real Madrid remains to be seen but in leaving Liverpool, he bids farewell to an unbelievable Anfield stay, full of so many brilliant moments. He is a player that is impossible to truly replace but in Conor Bradley, the right-back spot at Liverpool still has a bright future.