After months of speculation that a deal would be complete, Real Madrid are officially set to sign Liverpool right back Trent Alexander-Arnold after the England international himself confirmed an agreement to join the Merengue club in the summer 2025 transfer window as a free agent.
Let's take a look at how the Real Madrid lineup could look in the 2025/26 season with Alexander-Arnold in it.
GK Thibaut Courtois
Thibaut Courtois isn't leaving the goalposts any time soon in Madrid, as he remains the standard by which all other players at the position are measured.
LB Ferland Mendy
Fran Garcia has received the majority of starts at left back this season, but Ferland Mendy is the better option overall, especially since Real Madrid are bringing in a more attacking option in Trent Alexander-Arnold. Dani Carvajal and Fran Garcia would make more sense as a pairing than Alexander-Arnold and Fran together.
Mendy's attacking issues are so pronounced that Real Madrid should be signing a better left back than either Mendy or Fran regardless, but at least Mendy has a track record of success at winning LaLiga and the Champions League.
With Fran as a primary starter, Real haven't won anything, and while that is more correlational than causation, it still means Mendy has that to fall back on and an established track record at facing the best wingers in the world.
I also like the idea of Mendy tucking in as a third center back so that Alexander-Arnold can go higher up the pitch to support attacks, especially since the right wing situation at Real Madrid is such that the right winger functions more as a secondary striker in the channels.
CB Antonio Rudiger
Hopefully, Antonio Rudiger rebounds next season after finally undergoing knee surgery to repair an issue that has plagued him quite obviously throughout the 2024/25 season. Rudiger did not have a banner year as a result, but the two-time Champions League winner is a penciled in starter next season if fully healthy, as his main competitor, Eder Militao, is comingo off torn ACLs in both knees himself.
CB Raul Asencio
Raul Asencio is the highest-upside center back at Real Madrid. Among him, Jacobo Ramon, and Joan Martinez, Real Madrid have potentially the most promising center back triumvirate in European football at the prospect level. Clearly, Raul needs to start, and Real Madrid need to help do everything they can to make him an elite center back, even if he may struggle with the more attacking Alexander-Arnold next to him at right back in 2025/26.
RB Trent Alexander-Arnold
I expect Real Madrid to give Trent Alexander-Arnold the brunt of the starts at right back above club legend Dani Carvajal, who will instead be saved for the biggest games of the season against top left wingers in the knockout stages of the Champions League.
Alexander-Arnold is an elite crosser, set-piece taker, and even interior playmaker in the channels with his through balls and early lofted crosses to the backpost. On a team with players like Vinicius Junior, Kylian Mbappe, and Jude Bellingham, TAA is a potential 20-assist player at right back. His defensive work is better than people think, and with a manager possessing a legitimate pressing scheme, he can create a lot more goals than he surrenders with his bold interventions up the pitch.
CM Aurelien Tchouameni
Aurelien Tchouameni could still use some work in the consistency department, which is arguably the most important trait a covering 6 can have, but he has come on so strong in recent week that, in combination with Arda Guler's move to the regista role, Real Madrid may not need to go for Martin Zubimendi this summer.
There's no doubt that when Tchouameni is at his best, he is one of the best defensive midfielders in the world with his physical strength, aerial ability, passing accuracy, intelligence at reading the game, and technical quality.
CM Arda Guler
A pairing of Tchouameni and Arda Guler could rule the Real Madrid midfield for years to come. Guler has been a standout in this position over the last few games, including against Barcelona and especially in a crucial 3-2 win over an underrated Celta Vigo side. The Turkish international is as important to Real's future as any player on this team.
CM Fede Valverde
Fede Valverde absolutely has to start for Real Madrid, but it's unclear if that will be on the left side so that Guler can take more shots as a left-footer on the right with Fede coming up the pitch instead of Mendy, or on the right side which is his usual position.
But no matter where Fede plays, even at right back (won't be as necessary with Alexander-Arnold arriving), the Uruguayan international is a must-start and indispensible to Real's success. He is one of the most unique and well-rounded players in world football.
AM Jude Bellingham
Jude Bellingham is also unique and well-rounded, and he can start either as an 8 or a No. 10 who almost functions as a half-nine for the strikers to play off of in an around the box with those deadly late runs in. In many ways, you can argue Jude is the best raw poacher on the team witih his physical strength, tactical intelligence, and uncanny finishing touch for a midfielder.
FW Vinicius Junior
Say what you want about Vinicius Junior, but he is the most electrifying wide playmaker in world football and never gives up on his team. Vinicius Jr. is the heart and soul of Real Madrid, and most of their best games are when the Brazilian international is the focal point on the ball.
FW Kylian Mbappe
As Kylian Mbappe's brace against Celta Vigo served as a reminder, the Frenchman is a different class of overall quality on the ball to his teammates. He should be threatening for 50 goals in a season with the talent he is, but it's up to him to put it all together and start playing for the team. He showed that in the must-win match against Celta. Few players will benefit from Trent Alexander-Arnold and his juicy deliveries into the box as much as the free-scoring Mbappe.