Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold signed a pre-contract agreement with Real Madrid in January, according to former Premier League and England goalkeeper Paul Robinson.
There remains a host of speculation surrounding Alexander-Arnold's contract, as his terms with Liverpool are due to expire at the end of June, and talks over a potential fresh deal have stalled in recent months.
Real Madrid continue to be heavily linked with the England international, with the Spanish and European champions believed to have identified him as a priority target at the end of the 2024-25 campaign.
Robinson has claimed that Alexander-Arnold's switch to Bernabeu has already been agreed, with the defender penning a pre-contract in January, but both clubs decided that an announcement at that stage would not be beneficial.
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Alexander-Arnold 'has signed pre-contract with Real Madrid'
"I spent time in Madrid when we covered the Real Madrid v Man City game, and speaking to sources, they're convinced Trent signed a pre-contract in January," Robinson told Football Insider.
"It hasn't been made public knowledge yet, but the word in Madrid is they are 100% sure that he has signed a deal.
"Out of the three of them (Mohamed Salah, Virgil van Dijk, Alexander-Arnold), that one looks like it's a done deal. I don't think how Liverpool perform between now and the end of the season will have any baring on the decisions the players make."
Alexander-Arnold has again been a vital player for Liverpool this season, making 39 appearances, scoring three times and registering seven assists in the process, while he has made 349 appearances for the Reds in total during his professional career.
Last year, it looked certain that the 26-year-old would be penning fresh terms with Liverpool, having been earmarked as a potential future captain, but his time with the Merseyside giants is now seemingly coming to an end.
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Where will Alexander-Arnold play for Real Madrid?
Alexander-Arnold is one of the best attacking full-backs in world football, with his range of passing and assist record exemplary, but there remain question marks when it comes to his defensive abilities.
It is not impossible to imagine Alexander-Arnold being used in midfield by Real Madrid in certain matches, but it is understood that he is being signed by Los Blancos to feature at right-back.
Dani Carvajal has been sidelined with a serious knee injury since October 2024, but the Spaniard is making excellent progress in his recovery, and it is possible that he will feature before the end of the campaign.
Alexander-Arnold would have a serious battle on his hands with Carvajal next season, as the latter is one of the best right-backs in the world, and he has signed a new deal until June 2026.
Carvajal will be 34 at the start of next year, though, and Alexander-Arnold is a long-term option for Real Madrid, who are keen to reduce the average age of their squad during this summer's transfer window.
Matt Law
