Trent Alexander-Arnold Joins Real Madrid and Explains Name Change on Shirt
On Thursday afternoon, Trent Alexander-Arnold was officially presented as a Real Madrid player. The English defender, who transferred from Liverpool this summer, addressed the media in fluent Spanish during his first appearance as a member of Los Blancos.
He said: “Good afternoon. Thank you to President Florentino Perez and the club for this opportunity. This is not something that happens every day. It’s a dream come true, and I feel very proud and happy to be here. I want to show Real Madrid fans the way I play.”
“I understand the expectations that come with joining Real Madrid, and I’m ready to give everything for the team and the fans. I want to win trophies, play with the best, and become a winner here. Hala Madrid!”
Why “Trent” Appears on His Real Madrid Shirt
At Liverpool, Alexander-Arnold wore the number 66 shirt throughout his career, but due to La Liga regulations, he will wear the number 12 for Real Madrid. While he traditionally had his full surname displayed on the back of his shirt, that will change with his new club. From now on, his shirt will simply read “Trent.”
When asked about the decision during his unveiling, the 26-year-old explained: “It’s a pretty straightforward reason. Whenever I’ve traveled in Europe, people are often confused by my name—it’s long and double-barreled. Some call me Alexander, some Arnold, some Alex, and some Trent. It becomes a bit of a mess.”
“So I thought, let’s keep it simple. Just put ‘Trent’ on the back. That’s my name, and it’s what people call me anyway.”
He’s also updated his Instagram handle from ‘trentarnold66’ to just ‘trent’. The BBC noted that using a mononym is a strong branding move—it’s distinctive, memorable, and makes merchandising easier.
Trent could make his Real Madrid debut on Wednesday, June 18, when the team faces Al-Hilal in their opening match of the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.