Rashford, Bellingham React as Trent Alexander-Arnold Joins Real Madrid

On 12 June 2025, Trent Alexander-Arnold was unveiled at Real Madrid, delivering a Spanish speech at the Bernabeu. The 25-year-old joined on a free transfer from Liverpool and shared an emotional post. Marcus Rashford, Jude Bellingham, and David Beckham showed support as he begins a new chapter before the Club World Cup.

As the 2024–25 season concluded, Trent Alexander-Arnold officially began a new chapter by joining Real Madrid on a free transfer after his Liverpool contract neared expiration. The 25-year-old right-back, a product of Liverpool’s academy, was unveiled at the Santiago Bernabeu on June 12, delivering a surprise introduction speech in Spanish. His heartfelt message, captioned “Family is everything,” was widely supported by top footballers, including Jude Bellingham, Jordan Henderson, David Beckham, Marcus Rashford, Luis Diaz, and Bukayo Saka.

Alexander-Arnold leaves behind a Liverpool side that had just celebrated a Premier League title under new manager Arne Slot. Despite a few boos from fans when rumours of his exit circulated, he received a warm farewell on the final day at Anfield. Real Madrid expedited his transfer to ensure his inclusion in the upcoming Club World Cup squad.

Meanwhile, Liverpool is actively moving to replace his creative influence, with a record-breaking deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Florian Wirtz reportedly close to completion. The German star has drawn interest from Manchester City and Bayern Munich, but Liverpool is now the frontrunners to land him, signalling a bold start to their post-Alexander-Arnold era.