How Real Madrid will line up with Trent Alexander-Arnold

Cameron Smith

• Updated: 30 May 2025 05:44 CDT
• 5 min read

Analysis

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold has officially joined Real Madrid for a fee of €10 million.

The 26-year-old was set to become a free agent in July, but Los Blancos reached an agreement to sign him on 1 June, in order for him to feature at the Club World Cup, and the deal has been formally announced by both clubs.

Current ETV

Trent Alexander-Arnold

D (R)

Liverpool

Trent Alexander-Arnold

D (R)

Liverpool

€53.4M

ETV Range

€48.1M - €58.7M

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Alexander-Arnold has left Liverpool after a 21-year association with the club and he is expected to usurp Dani Carvajal as Real Madrid’s preferred right-back under Xabi Alonso next season.

The England international has become the first right-back to join Real Madrid since Alvaro Odriozola in 2018, while Liverpool have agreed a deal for Bayer Leverkusen’s Jeremie Frimpong as their replacement for the 26-year-old.

Below, FootballTransfers runs through how Real Madrid are likely to line up with Alexander-Arnold next season.

How Real Madrid will line up with Trent Alexander-Arnold

It all depends on whether Xabi Alonso chooses to stick with the 3-4-3 system that served him so well at Bayer Leverkusen, or if he uses the 4-3-3 formation that Real Madrid have deployed for years.

Either way, Thibaut Courtois will remain in between the sticks. The Belgian is one of the world’s best goalkeepers and despite Andriy Lunin’s impressive form in his absence during the 2023-24 season, he will keep his place under Alonso.

If Real Madrid opt to use a back-three system next year, new signing Dean Huijsen is likely to partner Eder Militao and Antonio Rudiger in defence.

Alexander-Arnold and Alvaro Carreras, who is expected to join from Benfica, will provide width at wing-back, while Federico Valverde and Jude Bellingham may be deployed in central midfield.

Bellingham has mostly played in a more advanced role since moving to Real Madrid from Borussia Dortmund, however Alonso has admitted that he views the Englishman as a midfielder.

Meanwhile, Rodrygo, Kylian Mbappe and Vinicius Junior will lead the line.

If Alonso opts to use a back four system, it's likely that Militao's place in the team will go to Aurelien Tchouameni, who would slot into central midfield alongside Valverde and Bellingham.

Real Madrid’s starting XI with Trent Alexander-Arnold (Option 1)

GK: Thibaut Courtois

CB: Dean Huijsen

CB: Eder Militao

CB: Antonio Rudiger

RWB: Trent Alexander-Arnold

CM: Federico Valverde

CM: Jude Bellingham

LWB: Alvaro Carreras

RW: Rodrygo

ST: Kylian Mbappe

LW: Vinicius Jr

Real Madrid’s starting XI with Trent Alexander-Arnold (Option 2)

GK: Thibaut Courtois

RB: Trent Alexander-Arnold

CB: Dean Huijsen

CB: Antonio Rudiger

LB: Alvaro Carreras

CM: Federico Valverde

CM: Aurelien Tchouameni

CM: Jude Bellingham

RW: Rodrygo

ST: Kylian Mbappe

LW: Vinicius Jr

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