Trent Alexander-Arnold – Liverpool Legend Or Traitor?

Trent Alexander-Arnold. A modern-day maverick and talent who operates as an attacking right full-back in the scouse red of Liverpool. However, after months of speculation and rumours linking the Liverpool-born defender with the Spanish giants of Real Madrid – Alexander-Arnold now looks set to put pen to paper to join the Madrid club in the summer on a free transfer.

Looking towards the potential transfer, is it the correct move for the full back, and how will it affect his legacy at Liverpool?

Career At Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold and Liverpool Football Club go hand in hand – ‘the scouser in their team.’ However, that saying, that association, and that love, might all be about to change. Born in Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold represented the Liverpool academy through various age groups, notably moving from a winger to a right-back in his time in the academy. The right-back made his debut at the age of 18 for the Merseyside club, and the defender would not look back, becoming one of the world's best in his position. Passing, set-pieces, crosses, and assists – Alexander-Arnold was a rare player in his position, being known more for his attacking ability and creative imagination rather than his defensive prowess.

The 26-year-old would appear in back-to-back UEFA Champions League finals in 2018 and 2019, famously turning around a 3-0 deficit against Barcelona at Anfield, quickly taking a corner to find Divock Origi, before lifting the trophy in 2019. 2019/20 would be another year of success for Alexander-Arnold, winning the UEFA Supercup and the Premier League for the first and only time. Consistency is the word to describe the right-back's time at Anfield, constantly impressing and providing assists for his team to play a key role in successful Liverpool sides. 349 games played in red, 22 goals scored, and 87 assists provided over eight senior years at the club. The success of Alexander-Arnold is not only on the pitch, but it is also felt off-it. A local lad and the player that Liverpool fans quickly fell in love with – it is a sentimental club between the defender and the fans at Anfield. No doubt a Liverpool hero, but now leaving without a fee, bridges may be burned, and frustrations might be waved towards the Scouser. But football is a business, and it seems that Alexander-Arnold has opted for the sunny settings of Madrid.

🚨💣 Trent Alexander-Arnold and Real Madrid, closer and closer after story revealed 1 year ago.

The official contract proposal from Real has been sent to TAA and his camp.

Discussions underway on details of the deal; all parties involved CONFIDENT to get the agreement done. pic.twitter.com/jlXHEzP2MX

— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) March 25, 2025

The Lure Of Real Madrid

Over the years, Alexander-Arnold has been a constant in the England national team, often competing with Kyle Walker or in recent years - being moved into a midfield role. Being involved in England duty means superstars alongside superstars, and in this case, it has formed a connection between Alexander-Arnold and Jude Bellingham. Bellingham is a Galactico in every right, one of the world’s best current midfielders and a global superstar in Spain. Swapping yellow for white in 2023, Bellingham rapidly became one of Real Madrid’s top players, with 34 goals and 24 assists in 81 appearances – the Birmingham-born player has all the abilities needed to become a legendary midfielder. And that name, stardom, and ambition to play with a player like Bellingham, now seems to have caught Alexander-Arnold. The current UEFA Champions League holders and 15-time winners, to become a Madridsta means the opportunity to win serial trophies, the Champions League, La Liga, and the UEFA Supercup. By joining Madrid, the Liverpool defender puts himself to do that and chase overall European success, rather than loyalty and status at his home-town club.

How Can Liverpool Replace Him?

Replacing a player like Alexander-Arnold will never be easy - a staple in the team and one of the best players in his position. However, under Arne Slot and with the talent, already available at the football, Liverpool are in a fantastic position to replace the right-back. Currently at the club is academy product Conor Bradley who has comfortably taken to life at the top level. Debuting in the Champions League in the season of 2021/22, Bradley has gone on to play 50 times for Liverpool, scoring once and assisting nine times in red. The Northern Irishman is a fast, energetic, and aggressive right-back who covers every blade of grass on the pitch. While not yet breaking into the starting lineup, Bradley is season by season, gaining a bigger role at Anfield – notably restricting Kylian Mbappe during this season, and with the loss of a positional rival like Alexander-Arnold, Bradley will thrive and take full advantage of a starting spot. Another option for Liverpool is to look into the transfer market and spend on a replacement. One potential option that lies out there is in Germany, and with Bayer Leverkusen as their Dutch right-back, Jeremie Frimpong continues to impress. Despite his smaller stature, Frimpong is an incredibly creative full-back, who powered the German side towards the Bundesliga title last season – scoring nine goals and assisting seven times. With the Dutchman having a rumoured release clause of £40m, Frimpong could be an ideal replacement for Alexander-Arnold that would complement the system at right full-back.

🚨 Jeremie Frimpong has a release clause in his Bayer Leverkusen contract of just €40m.

(Source: @FabrizioRomano) pic.twitter.com/i9H9mVDs7y

— Transfer News Live (@DeadlineDayLive) March 17, 2025

Can You Begrudge Alexander-Arnold?

Football fans are always going to be upset with a move like this, an £80m player leaving on a free transfer and moving on, rather than valuing the importance of loyalty. However, as the presence of money continues to invade the football landscape, moves are becoming more prevalent for players. For Alexander-Arnold, a new challenge might be appealing - the chance to win trophies and to play with players such as Bellingham, Mbappe, and Vinicius Junior. Therefore, it is hard to begrudge the defender for this move, and it will be interesting to see how this chapter will play out in the career of Trent Alexander-Arnold.