Alexander-Arnold confirms his exit from Liverpool

Liverpool right-back, Trent Alexander-Arnold revealed that he seriously considered extending his contract, but has decided to exit and find a new challenge after 20 years at his boyhood club.

Despite his deep-rooted affection for the club, Alexander-Arnold confirmed his decision exit Liverpool Football Club after his contract expire in June.

“Giving everything day in, day out for 20 years, I’ve got to a point now where I feel like I need a change, a new challenge for me as a player and as a person,” the 26-year-old told the club’s official website. “And I think now is the right time for me to do that.”

Speculation surrounding Alexander-Arnold’s future has been rife throughout the campaign. After months of toing and froing, numerous reports in March claimed that the England international had decided to join Real Madrid once his stay at Liverpool had come to an end.

While Alexander-Arnold would not be drawn on his next destination, he did explain why he chose Monday, 5 May as the moment to officially announce his exit. “I know a lot of people will say I should have said sooner, a lot of people will say maybe I waited for the right time. But I felt personally the focus should always be on the pitch, should always be about the football.

“When we were in a title race and trying to push for trophies, it’s about making the right decision for the team and trying not to distract the team and take away from what we’re doing on the pitch. For me, it was always to do it after the season was kind of done; not so much the final game but when there was nothing else really to play for.”

Alexander-Arnold had his second Premier League title with Liverpool confirmed by last weekend’s 5-1 thumping of Tottenham Hotspur. With no other cup competition to play for, the right-back felt it was “the right time to get it off my chest and tell the fans the truth”.

There has been plenty of backlash from fans once it became clear that Alexander-Arnold would be leaving Liverpool in his prime years. The proud Scouser accepted that “the news will disappoint a lot of people, will anger people, it will make them upset” but stressed how difficult a decision it was.

“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’m leaving as player, as a fan I’ll always be a Liverpool fan,” Alexander-Arnold concluded.