Trent Alexander-Arnold is set to begin his second season at Real Madrid under new manager Jose Mourinho, more than 14 months after leaving Liverpool for the Spanish club. The 27-year-old right-back's debut campaign fell short of the high expectations that accompanied his move, as injuries, managerial upheaval and the challenge of adjusting to a new league left him unable to establish himself as a first-choice player, and he also missed out on England's World Cup squad.

Real Madrid paid Liverpool a reported 10m euros (£8.4m) to release Alexander-Arnold a month early in June 2025, but hamstring and thigh injuries sidelined him for a combined nine weeks last season, limiting him to 35 of the club's 62 matches and 27 starts as he shared right-back duties with Dani Carvajal. He finished the campaign strongly despite Real failing to win a major trophy under Xabi Alonso and Alvaro Arbeloa, and has now impressed new boss Mourinho during a full pre-season, with the Portuguese coach valuing his versatility and ability to push into central midfield areas.