Arsenal 'exploring' move for ex-Liverpool star stuck at Real Madrid

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Trent Alexander-Arnold has been linked with a return to the Premier League just over a year after swapping Anfield for the Bernabeu — and Arsenal are reportedly among the clubs looking at the situation.

The England full-back left Liverpool in the summer of 2025 after deciding against signing a new contract at his boyhood club, joining Real Madrid on a free transfer. The move has not gone as planned. Alexander-Arnold has struggled for consistent minutes in Spain and has not been a guaranteed starter under the managers he has worked with at the Spanish giants.

The report

According to Fussball News, Arsenal are interested in bringing Alexander-Arnold back to England and have been exploring a potential deal in recent weeks. The report frames the 28-year-old as an opportunity to add quality and top-level experience to Mikel Arteta's squad.

It is worth flagging that this is not a tier-one scoop from the likes of David Ornstein or Fabrizio Romano, and the language used is that of monitoring rather than of concrete negotiations. Arsenal's reported interest is at the exploratory stage.

The same report notes that any move would hinge on several factors — chiefly Real Madrid's stance on the player, and whether Liverpool would look to re-sign a player they lost for nothing. If the Reds do not pursue a reunion, the suggestion is that Arsenal could push their interest further.

What he would bring

Alexander-Arnold's Premier League body of work speaks for itself. He won two league titles and the Champions League with Liverpool, establishing himself as one of the most influential players in possession the competition has seen at right-back.

His passing range, set-piece delivery and ability to break lines from deep made him a central creative outlet for a title-winning side. The defensive questions that followed him throughout his Anfield years were well documented, but they never outweighed what he offered with the ball at his feet.

A return to England would also offer Alexander-Arnold a route back to regular football and the rhythm he lost in Madrid. The report suggests he could be open to that, given how much success he enjoyed in the Premier League before his departure.

A long way from done

For now, this is one to file under "monitor" rather than "imminent". Real Madrid's valuation, the player's own willingness to move back, and the interest of other clubs — Liverpool included — all sit between the rumour and anything resembling a deal.

The report indicates the picture should become clearer in the coming weeks as Arsenal continue to assess their options in the position. Whether that assessment turns into a formal approach is the question that will define the story from here.