From Trent Alexander-Arnold is expected to be confirmed before the beginning of June as a brand new Real Madrid player.
The international of England has now confirmed its intention to leave Liverpool when his contract ends on 30 June.
The defender born in Liverpool has issued an emotional update to fans who explain his decision to leave Anfield for a new challenge while preparing to move to Madrid.
Neither parties confirmed a move to the Spanish capital at this stage with some aspects of the deal that still has to be confirmed.
Los Blancos insists on including the 26-year-old in their team for the FIFA Club World Cup, but that would require an early release of his Liverpool contract.
The Reds could demand in the £ 1 million region to arrange his contract for a month early and enable him to board a flight to the US next month.
The incoming step from Alexander-Arnold to the Estadio Santiago Bernabeu is the latest large free transfer movement of the Spanish giants after securing Kylian Mbappe last summer.
Real Madrid chose to pay a huge price for Mbappe in 2023, because they remained convinced that he would just end his Paris Saint-Germain contract and leave for free.
The club has adopted a similar approach for Alexander-Arnold, despite a rumor £ 20 million bid to take him to Madrid in January, which was rejected by Liverpool.
Fifa's head of global football development – and former Arsenal -Baas – Arsene Wenger hinted that this type of deal is more common – because clubs cannot afford record -breaking transfers.
“I think the transfer from Trent (Alexander-Arnold) shows a new trend in the game, there are no more transfers from the big players,” he told Bein Sports, via Marca.
“They all leave at the end of their contract. Wages are so high that it is no longer possible to pay the transfers!
“Real Madrid contacted Alexander-Arnold long ago. Big clubs do this. Two years before the end of the contract, they tell you: 'We want to sign you, we give you this salary and try to make an offer to your club.
“If it doesn't work, they will come back next year, and if not, they will sign you for free. That's what they did with Mbappe.”