As expected, Trent Alexander-Arnold will sign with Real Madrid as a free agent this summer, bringing the most well-known right back in the world to the Santiago Bernabeu after he achieved pretty much all there is to achieve as a homegrown star at Liverpool.
Obviously, Real Madrid as a whole stand to benefit from signing a world-class player for free, but which individuals, in particular, will gain the most from this signing? And who will secretely wish this deal never happened?
Winner: RB Dani Carvajal
Even though Trent Alexander-Arnold plays the same position as Dani Carvajal and is basically taking over for his job, I actually see the Spanish international as a beneficiary of this signing. Carvajal is now 33 years old, and while a change in diet and routine has helped him, this past season's ACL tear is a reminder that you can do everything 100 percent right in football and still get injured.
Real Madrid will still use Carvajal significantly, and he offers more defensive cover and experience at the elite level. But Real can now use him sparingly, saving his minutes for matchups against teams that Alexander-Arnold might not be the best option for.
Alexander-Arnold's signing can help prolong Carvajal's career and keep him fresher and healthier for the biggest Champions League knockout games.
Loser: RM Lucas Vazquez
There was already significant speculation that long-time Real Madrid rotational piece Lucas Vazquez would be leaving the club as a free agent this summer, and those reports have only increased over the last few days.
Vazquez used to be a serviceable option at right back when Dani Carvajal suffered injuries, but now that he's approaching 34 years old this July himself, decline has started to set in and it hasn't been pretty. Trent Alexander-Arnold joining Real Madrid basically seals Vazquez's fate; Saudi Arabia should be calling next.
Winner: President Florentino Perez
As Fabrizio Romano has reported consistently, it's no secret that Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has dreamed of Trent Alexander-Arnold as a priority target in 2025.
He always wants to sign the biggest names in world football, and Alexander-Arnold was the biggest name on the market this year as an England international with a Champions League and two Premier League titles at Liverpool who established himself as a generational playmaker at right back - the best playmaking RB since Real Madrid rival Dani Alves over at Barcelona (and Sevilla).
Perez is getting his man and adding someone marketable in the prime of his career who can create dazzling, highlight-reel passes for the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Junior, and close friend Jude Bellingham to latch onto. This signing has Perez's fingerprints all over it.
Loser: CB Raul Asencio
While I do think the criticisms of Trent Alexander-Arnold defensively are overstated, because he takes a lot of risks in supporting the attack and even in trying to win the ball in possession higher up the pitch as a defender vs. covering, he's going to put a lot of stress on the right-sided center back.
Right now, that player is Raul Asencio, and he's been so impressive in his first season on the senior team that I'd anticipate him starting in this role next season. If there is one issue I do have with the young Raul, however, then it is the fact that he is so aggresive that he can get caught out positionally against better opponents.
So, unfortunately, his weakness as a right-sided center back matches up with Alexander-Arnold's biggest weakness such that Real Madrid could have a real vulnerability issue against fast-attacking, athletic offenses. Alexander-Arnold is going to stress Raul defensively, and while that is a negative going into the 2025/26 season, it could be a positive in the long run.
Winner: CM Fede Valverde
Another winner of the transfer, Fede Valverde was actually the best Real Madrid right back in the 2024/25 season after Carvajal's early-season ACL tear, to the point where he was even starting for Los Merengues in the biggest matches of the campaign.
While Valverde was excellent at right back and only increased both his overall value and his adoration from Madridistas for these performances, it's obviously better for the world-class No. 8 to start as often as possible in midfield. Those beautiful, smashing goals can't occur as frequently at right back either.
Trent Alexander-Arnold finally gives Real Madrid another credible right back option besides Carvajal, and it means Valverde won't have to make as many starts at right back. That's a big win for Madrid. Another thing to keep in mind, though, is because Alexander-Arnold can be weaker defensively and likes to push forward to attack, Fede will hold even more importance to the team positionally and defensively.