MADRID, May 30 (Xinhua) -- Real Madrid has announced the signing of England international defender Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool.
The Spanish club had reached an agreement to sign Alexander-Arnold on a free transfer when his contract expired at Liverpool at the end of June, but paid the Premier League champions a fee of between 10 million to 15 million euros to release the defender a month early so he can play in the Club World Cup, which kicks off in mid-June.
Real Madrid will make its debut in the tournament on June 18 against Saudi Arabian side Al-Hilal.
The 26-year-old, who announced he was leaving Liverpool earlier this month, has agreed to a six-year contract running through June 2031, with a release clause of 1 billion euros.
He spent his entire career at Liverpool, joining the club as a six-year-old and winning two Premier League titles, the Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup, UEFA Super Cup, FA Cup and League Cup over eight seasons with the first team.
Alexander-Arnold becomes Real Madrid's second signing of the summer following the arrival of central defender Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth. Xabi Alonso was presented two days ago as the new first-team coach, replacing Carlo Ancelotti, who has begun work with the Brazilian national team. ■
