Trent Alexander-Arnold explained why he decided to inform Liverpool FC about his decision to leave the club at the end of his contract.
The 26-year-old will leave Anfield after more than 20 years this summer, when his deal will be closed on June 30, 2025. He will do this after 352 performances, 23 goals and eight major awards so far.
Alexander-Arnold sat down with Liverpoolfc.com in the AXA Training Center to outline his reasoning for his decision. Read on for a full transcript.
Trent, you have made the decision to leave Liverpool FC at the end of your current contract. Can you explain that decision to our supporters?
I think in the first place, I want to say that it is not an easy decision and there is a lot of thinking and feeling that it went in. I have been here for 20 years now, loved every minute, reached all my dreams, achieved everything I once wanted here. Everything day in, day out for 20 years, I now have the feeling that I need a change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person. And I think it's the right time for me to do that.
Many people have clearly waited to hear from you and hear what your decision would be. Why is the right time now to announce your decision?
It is clear that there has been a lot of noise about what the decision would be and what that would look like. I know that many people will say that I should have said earlier, many people will say that I might have been waiting at the right time. But I personally felt that the focus should always be on the field, should always be about football. When we were in a title race and trying to penetrate trophies, it is about making the right decision for the team and trying not to distract the team and remove what we do on the field. For me it was always to do it after the season was a bit ready; Not so much the last game, but if there was nothing else to really play for. Now that we have won the competition and we have been able to celebrate and celebrate such a great performance, I had the feeling that now the right time is to get it from my chest and tell the fans the truth, and now that time is.
You have clearly talked to Liverpool about the potential of a new contract here. Was the stay in Liverpool ever a possibility given the success of this season and the good relationship you have with Arne Slot?
One hundred percent, a huge possibility. I have full faith in the manager and the staff and the club in the future. 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 that from the first few moments I knew 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 faith 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 somewhere else. I feel like a challenge in another environment that I have to do as a player.
Can you understand why supporters will be disappointed to hear that?
Yes, 100 percent. 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 leaving what I looked of 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, will make people angry, it will make them upset. That clearly also went in the decision – it is something you don't want to do, you never want these times when you feel that you are abandoning many people, your disappointing people disappointing. But I had to make a decision for me, it's as simple as that. It is a difficult one, it is one that has played in my mind for a long time, but now being able to get it from my chest, will feel that a weight is being lifted. And I think it is important for fans to know where I stand and know what the truth is.
The time will come for you to think carefully about your time and performance in Liverpool, far back to the academy, until the first team, winner of the Champions League, Premier League winner. How would you describe your feelings to this place if you started to think about life away from here?
Only the word that comes to mind is love if I am honest. I fell in love with the club from a very, very young age and that is something that has grown day in, day out. It has given me the possibilities to achieve everything I have ever wanted, it has given me the possibilities to achieve everything outside of my wildest dreams. I can never repay enough from what I have been given and I do not take it for granted at all. But as I said, at the end of the day I had to make a decision and it is one that was very difficult. I only hope that people will be able to see and understand that I have given everything to the club, I have now given everything every day every day every day. I sacrificed everything, I did everything I have ever had to do to try to help the team win games. And whatever happens, that will never change. I will be a fan of the club forever, there will be no change in that. I will always look at the games, I will support from a distance. But in terms of a player at the club, I think I am now the right moment for me to continue and challenge myself elsewhere.
We immediately saw you in the mix of the celebrations after we have conquered the Premier League against Tottenham. How important does that performance feel for you?
For me it is at the top. You get some of those moments in your life, I believe. Those special feelings that football can give you. It was a goal and a target for us in the past six or seven years, I think. Especially winning the title without fans [in 2019-20] – That was one that motivated us much more to win it with the fans there. Winning at home was a dream of my home. You dream of growing up. Winning a Premier League title for Liverpool in Anfield is something that I have depicted time and time again in my head. But to achieve that against Tottenham there was for me, it was a feeling that I will never forget. I will be able to cherish it forever.
Now that you have made this announcement, where do you hope for the last weeks of your Liverpool career?
I just hope that we are able to do competitions, the sound does not take away from the fact of what we have achieved this season. It has been a great season, it was great to be part of it and I only hope that everyone may not be able to think about this news for too long and to be able to celebrate what the rest of the boys did. Don't let it cast a dark cloud this season and let everyone celebrate what we have achieved as a club. And to enjoy the home and road games, the guards of honor, the parties, everything that goes with it. I hope we can celebrate it together. I know the news will take some time to enter 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, everyone are able to feel how good a season is and can feel the love and support of the fans as they have done the entire season.
Is there something in terms of the fans that you would say to Liverpool supporters?
I would like to say a lot. The most important thing is a huge thanks. You have been there with me from the start, you have supported me, have been there. I have felt the support, the love, everything you have done, has never been unnoticed by me, I enjoyed it every minute. I hope they feel that this has been answered and that I have given everything to the club. I did things that I never thought I could do, and to do them with the fans and supporters of this club has been something I will never forget. I have a lot of memories that will live with me forever. There is no doubt about it, I will come back – I would like to be able to take my children to Anfield one day and show that I played there and show them the videos and highlights of what we could achieve together. So a huge thank you, thanks for everything you have ever done for me. Thank you for the support, thanks for the love I have always felt, thank you for always having my back. I will always love the club, I will always love the people of the club, I will always love the fans and the supporters. Even though I leave as a player, as a fan I will always be a Liverpool fan.