Credit has to go to both club and player for keeping everything under wraps until the title race was over, so as not to deflect from the matter in hand.
For a player that has spent his entire career at Liverpool, it's clear from the tone of his goodbye that the decision to leave hasn't been taken lightly. Indeed, there appeared to be genuine emotion in his voice as he spoke about the next stage of his journey.
Whilst there's an argument that he's leaving at the worst possible time given that Liverpool have taken on all comers in the Premier League in 2024/25, the flip side is that Real Madrid don't come calling too often.
To that end, there should be an understanding of Trent's desire to move on from his Reds experience, even if it raises question marks as to who will replace him on the right side of defence from the start of the 2025/26 campaign.
Whomever Arne Slot decides upon for that particular job, they've got a hard act to follow.
Trent will be a hard act to follow at Liverpool
Of the 348 games he's played in all competitions over the past 10 seasons, Trent has started in 315 of them. Only 54 losses during that time is a remarkable stat, and he's played the fullest part in many successes since 2014/15.
He's provided 85 assists and scored 22 goals himself which isn't bad at all for a player that's ostensibly a right-back, even if there's an argument to be made that he should be played much further forward.
15 of those 22 goals have been from outside the area too, showing that Trent isn't frightened of taking aim if the opportunity presents itself. That might go some way to explaining why he's also hit the woodwork on another 15 occasions.
Perhaps his shooting accuracy could be improved as his current 32% has dipped a little from a high of 41.7% in 2021/22. Real Madrid, who are expected to be his new employers from next season, will almost certainly expect to see an uplift in this regard.
Ditto his defensive abilities.
Los Blancos have been poor at the back this season so will need players that can not only bomb forward at every opportunity but who can also stand toe-to-toe with their direct opponent and win the majority of those battles.
Just 44 yellow cards received in that time speaks of a defender that more often than not times his tackles just right. Roughly four per season is incredible when one considers how physical the Premier League can be at times.
Between 2014/15 and 2024/25, in the competitions where he's made more than 10 tackles, Trent's best showing is a 70% return in terms of successful tackles.
That's not great for a defender, though the Liverpool man has certainly upped his game in terms of his passing range and that may ensure - for now - that other aspects of his game are overlooked.
Passing accuracy could be manna from heaven for Real Madrid forwards
For so long, Trent was unable to see his contributions in terms of passing go north of 80%; however, for the most part of late, he's enjoyed pass completion stats in the low to mid 80s.
Pinging balls over the top of LaLiga defences for Vinicius Junior and Kylian Mbappe to run onto will almost certainly become a feature of Real Madrid's play in future because of the ease with which Trent will be able to pick out his targets.
Assuming that a deal to Real goes through as expected, unless there's a surprise Trent will be battling with defensive stalwart Dani Carvajal and winger-cum-defender Lucas Vazquez for the regular right-back slot.
The latter can really be considered more of a wide man but has filled in for the former of late because of injury. Unable to dislodge the likes of Vini Jr or Rodrygo from the wide areas up front, Vazquez does face the possibility of becoming more of a bit part player if Trent hits the ground running.
Lucas Vazquez has done a stellar job of covering for Dani Carvajal
Many of the 38 goals scored and the 58 assists provided will have come during Lucas Vazquez's time out wide, though that shouldn't take away from his evident quality in that regard. Who's to say that if Carlo Ancelotti were to leave the club for example, that any new incumbent in the dugout will prefer the Liverpool man in a more attacking role that Vazquez has generally excelled in?
With a pass accuracy of at least 80% and very often much higher - 90% in this season's LaLiga - it's clear where Vazquez's strength is and it will, undoubtedly, highlight Trent's weakness in this area even more.
Winning 412 of his 616 tackles made over the last decade would suggest a tenacity to the 33-year-old's game which could be sorely missed too if he's sent plummeting down the pecking order.
Carvajal, also 33, is certainly the most dogged and determined of the trio as 110 yellow cards since 14/15 would attest.
Involved in 3,204 duels also indicates a penchant for the more physical side, albeit he's lost almost as many (1,518) as he's won (1,686).
1,799 ball recoveries show he's no shirker, however, and, like his Real colleague, the regular right-back's experience at the very highest level of the game will remain invaluable to his club, even if his output is perhaps what's likely to put him at a disadvantage to Trent.
Trent can't let the weight of the Real Madrid shirt hamper his natural game
Carvajal's 12 goals scored is far less than his contemporaries, though 54 assists brings him in line with Vazquez. Both are still way behind Trent's ability to pick out a team-mate to fire home, however.
Carvajal likes a dribble too having attempted over 600 of them, though you won't often see him popping up at the sharp end of the pitch; of his 28,071 touches in the past 10 seasons, only 681 have been in the opponent's penalty area.
If Trent is able to ensure deeper forays into opposition territory, that's of clear benefit to a team that often pride themselves on having their full-backs get forward and act as supplementary attackers.
The main issue for Carvajal and Vazquez of course is age, which comes into play when you think about the energy expended in getting up and down the pitch. Try as they might, the duo simply aren't going to be as fit or agile as a player that's seven years their junior.
As long as Trent isn't overawed by the weight of wearing the white jersey at one of, if not the biggest club in the world, he has the tools to become a success.
