The news finally came on Monday morning as expected. It's official. Trent Alexander-Arnold will be leaving Liverpool at the end of the season.

The Reds right-back's future has been a source of discussion throughout the last two seasons with his contract expiring this summer.

However, Alexander-Arnold provided clarity on his situation on social media shortly after 10am.

In two statements combined for 600 words, 598 words to be exact, the 26-year-old outlined to Liverpool supporters as to why he is leaving his boyhood club after 20 years on Merseyside.

As detailed by Mail Sport, the Reds vice-captain will sign for Real Madrid and commit his future to the reigning champions of Europe and Spain with a long-term deal.

But taking to X, Alexander-Arnold addressed the Anfield fan base with a statement and a video message.

In his 252-word statement, the Reds No 66 wrote: 'After 20 years at Liverpool football club, now is the time for me to confirm that I will be leaving at the end of the season.

'This is easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life.

'I know many of you have wondered why or been frustrated that I haven't spoken about this yet, but it was always my intention to keep my full focus on the team's best interests, which was securing No.20.

'This club has been my whole life - my whole world - for 20 years. From the academy right through until now, the support and love I have felt from everyone inside and outside of the club will stay with me forever. I will forever be in debt to you all.

'But, I have never known anything else and this decision is about experiencing a new challenge, taking myself out of my comfort zone and pushing myself both professionally and personally.

'I've given my all every single day I've been at this club, and I hope you feel like I've given back to you during my time here.

'From the bottom of my heart, I thank everybody – my coaches, my managers, my team-mates, the staff and our incredible supporters - for the last 20 years.

'I've been blessed enough to live out my dreams here and I will never, ever take for granted the special moments I've been fortunate enough to have lived through with you all. My love for this club will never die.'

The statement was accompanied with a two minute and 57 seconds video, where Alexander-Arnold spoke directly down the camera among a montage of his highlights at the club.

'Ok. After 20 years at Liverpool football club I'll be leaving at the end of the season,' he began his 346-word monologue.

'I think the decision for me is personal. To change environment, to challenge myself elsewhere.

'It's not about wanting to find something better, it's about me and my personal journey as a player and I feel like now is the right time for me to go and experience that.

'People won't be happy with the decision, but it's something that I feel like I need to do on my journey and my career.

'The times that I've had here, the memories, the special moments, are and will be some of the best moments I'll have in my life - and memories that live with me forever.

'And I'm eternally grateful to everyone who's helped me along the way. Being able to sit here now as a two-time Premier League champion for the club that I grew up loving, it's a great end to the story for me.

'Of course it's very emotional for me. It's all I've ever known. It's everything I've ever wanted to do. Dreamed of as a kid. It's just very emotional if I'm honest because the club, the city, the fans, the people have given me things that I could never have dreamt of in my wildest dreams.

'It's a journey that I've lived through that millions of people will dream of doing and I've been lucky enough to have been able to experience it. I'll never forget it and I can't think everyone enough for the support, the belief, amazing moments we've had.

'The love I have for this club will never leave. It will never diminish. I'll love it forever. I'll forever be in debt to the club and the fans for everything they've done for me. And there's no doubt about it, I'll be back. Any chance I get, I'll come watch games. I'll be supporting, I'll be wanting the club to win and the club to be successful.

'There's nothing changing in that. I will always remain a Liverpool fan.

'Thank you.'

The news puts to an end the long-running saga that has dominated debates this season with the 26-year-old not discussing his future out of respect to Liverpool as he did not want it to be played out in public.

Mail Sport was the first English newspaper to report that Real Madrid were confident of securing Alexander-Arnold way back in December - and not much has changed along the way.

It is understood that the contract is not officially signed yet but will be soon, with the England international set to join his good pal and Three Lions team-mate Jude Bellingham in the Spanish capital.