Trent Alexander-Arnold said he understood the frustration of Liverpool fans about his decision to leave the club at the end of the season.
Alexander-Arnold's current contract will be at the end of June and confirmed in a video on Monday that he is planning to find a new challenge from Anfield.
The 26-year-old was associated with a move to Real Madrid after months of speculation, although nothing has been formally agreed between the two clubs.
Alexander-Arnold came to the fore on Merseyside under former manager Jurgen Klopp, and has turned out to be 352 times for the Reds over all competitions.
No player has recorded more Premier League assists as a defender than Alexander-Arnold (64), while he also leaves after eight major awards with the club.
Alexander-Arnold accepted that his decision would be considered controversial after he had explained his wish to challenge himself elsewhere next season.
In a sit-down chat with the official website of Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold said: “I have been a fan of this club all my life, it gave me the chance to do everything I have done to achieve everything.
“So I understand that. Growing up, seeing players who leave that I like to look and helped the team to win trophies, you feel a connection with the players you look at, especially if they also bring success in the club.
“So I fully understand the feelings that go with it, and I have felt it myself, so I fully understand that the news will disappoint many people, people will make people angry, it will make them upset.
“It is clear that that also went in the decision – it is something that you don't want to do, you never want these moments when you feel that you are abandoning many people, your disappointing many people.
“But I have had to make a decision for myself. It is that simple. It is a difficult one, it is one that has played in my mind for a long time, but now be able to get it from my chest, will have the feeling that a weight is being lifted. And I think it is important for the fans to know where I am and know what the truth is.”
After 20 years at Liverpool Football Club it is now time for me to confirm that I will leave at the end of the season.
This is easily the most difficult decision I have ever made in my life.
I know that many of you have wondered why or frustrated that I have not talked about this … pic.twitter.com/emaw5rvxq0
-Alexander-Arnold (@trentaa) 5 May 2025
Alexander-Arnold was one of the three high-profile names in Liverpool, whose contracts were at the end of their title-winning Premier League campaign.
Virgil van Dijk and Mohamed Salah put pen on paper on new terms, but the Reds were unable to bind Alexander-Arnold, who will now leave the club for nothing.
But the international of England revealed that he discussed his relationship with new boss, Arne Slot, close to expanding his stay on Merseyside.
“[Signing a contract] was a huge opportunity. I have full faith in the manager and the staff and the club in the future, “added Alexander-Arnold.
“It is not about thinking that we are not going to fight for titles or fighting for the season of the trophies, season out, because I knew about the first few moments with the manager that he was a winner. He wanted to win things.
“And you saw that this season with the way we played. So it was never about not having any confidence in that, it just came down to what I felt I needed, and that is a change.
“That is something that I have to do on my personal journey as a person, but also as a player and a professional, to challenge myself elsewhere. I feel like a challenge in another environment that I have to do as a player.”
Alexander-Arnold now has three games left for Liverpool, with Slot's team opposite Arsenal, Brighton and Crystal Palace in their last league games of the season.
The former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher believes in his column for De Telegraaf and believes that Liverpool supporters have the right to feel upset by the decision of Alexander-Arnold.
Carragher recognized the pedigree and position of Madrid at the top of the football pyramid, but claimed that players such as Alexander-Arnold run the risk of losing their inheritance for success in the short term.
“Players are even more loved if they really mean it when they say they don't want to play for someone else,” wrote Carragher.
“If that image of the own talent live that the dream is an illusion is, people feel abandoned.
“By leaving Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold makes it harder for his own club to win his 21st league title and seventh European cup. That will certainly create emotions.
“With Monday's statement, the unconditional support for Alexander-Arnold was enjoyed when he fully committed himself to Liverpool.”
Alexander-Arnold, however, outlined his ambitions for his last games as a Liverpool player.
“I just hope that we are able to do competitions. The noise does not take away from the fact of what we have achieved this season,” said Alexander-Arnold.
“It has been a great season, it was great to be part of it and I only hope that everyone is able to not be thinking about this news for too long and to be able to celebrate what the rest of the boys did.
“Let this cast not leave a dark cloud during the season and let everyone celebrate what we have achieved as a club. And to enjoy the home and road, the guards of honor, the parties, everything that goes with it.
“I hope we can celebrate it together. I know the news will take a little time to go in and people will not be happy and they will be disappointed.
“At the end of the day you can be angry and hurt, but I only hope that the boys, the rest of the team, the staff, are able to feel a season and to feel the love and support of the fans as they have done the entire season.”