Trent Alexander-Arnold is poised to join Real Madrid on June 1, as the England international is set to play in the Club World Cup after the Spanish club agreed to pay a fee of $11.3 million to secure his services a month earlier than planned.

Alexander-Arnold had agreed to join Madrid upon the expiration of his contract at Anfield, but would then have been unable to sign for his new team until July 1, which would coincide with the summer tournament in the United States.
[Translation: Alexander-Arnold agreed to join Madrid on the end of his contract with Liverpool, but would not be able to sign with his new team until July 1, by which time they would be in the middle of the summer tournament in the United States.]

Madrid initiated discussions with Liverpool earlier this month and successfully negotiated a substantial fee to get their new right back in time for Xabi Alonso’s initial competitive matches. This represents a major victory for Liverpool, who were prepared for the possibility of losing the England international. Initially, Real Madrid proposed a fee of less than $1 million; therefore, they will receive more than half of the bid they previously declined for Alexander-Arnold in December and save a month’s salary.

Liverpool is anticipated to sign Jeremie Frimpong in a $40 million deal as a replacement for Alexander-Arnold. They are also targeting teammates Florian Wirtz and Bournemouth’s Milos Kerkez.

Meanwhile, Alexander-Arnold bolsters a Madrid defense that will also welcome Dean Huijsen, who arrives from Bournemouth on June 1, the same day the Liverpool right back does. They will have slightly more than two weeks to familiarize themselves with their new teammates ahead of Madrid’s campaign opener against Al-Hilal on June 18.