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Trent Alexander-Arnold with Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk.(Image: Catherine Ivill - AMA/Getty Images)

Liverpool captain Virgil van Dijk has responded to Trent Alexander-Arnold's high-profile decision to leave the club at the end of the season.

The 26-year-old announced, on Monday, that he would exit Anfield and is now expected to join Real Madrid, who made an approach to sign the defender on New Year's Eve.

Alexander-Arnold, who made his debut for the Reds in October 2016, described the decision to leave his boyhood club - after more than two decades of service - as "easily the hardest decision I've ever made in my life".



But the England international insisted it was a decision he had to make in order to "experience a new challenge" and "take myself out of my comfort zone."

Explaining his decision to leave the club, in a social media post, Alexander-Arnold said: "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.

READ MORE:Real Madrid attempt to speed up Trent Alexander-Arnold transfer from LiverpoolREAD MORE:Steven Gerrard left Wayne Rooney shocked after decision following Liverpool exit

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

"I know many of you have wondered why or have 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.

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"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 that 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."

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Since Alexander-Arnold went public, he has been inundated with messages of support from Liverpool's players - past and present - including Jordan Henderson, Mohamed Salah and Ibrahima Konate.

And on Tuesday afternoon, captain van Dijk became the latest player to wish Alexander-Arnold well as he left a hand-clapping and heart emoji under the defender's Instagram post.

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