Liverpool on Friday confirmed reaching an agreement with Real Madrid to allow England international Trent Alexander-Arnold to join the La Liga giant.
Briefly.ng learnt that Madrid could have waited for the transfer window to open in June and signed Arnold for free when his current contract expired, but new head coach Xabi Alonso wanted to start working with the defender, so the club had to trigger an early signing.
Liverpool will receive €10 million (£8.4 million) and Madrid will pay his June wages, raising the fee to £10 million.
Arnold, 26, is expected to sign a six-year contract at the club when the transfer window officially opens on Sunday.
According to Sky Sports, his contract at Madrid will contain a release of €250m (£210m).
Madrid had tried to sign Arnold for just £1m before his contract with the Premier League champions expired on June 30 but will instead pay £10 million to secure his services.
The La Liga club went for the player early in order to have him ready to play for the club at the Club World Cup in the United States, which begins on June 15, 2025.
Liverpool, in a statement, appreciated Arnold, who joined the club’s academy at age six, for his contributions over the years.
He will leave Anfield with 354 appearances and 23 goals after making his senior debut in October 2016.
He lifted eight major “honours alongside his team-mates, which consist of two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and two League Cups”.
