Real Madrid’s acquisition of Trent Alexander-Arnold is already proving to be a shrewd piece of business. Although the England international joined on a free transfer, the club paid approximately €10 million to secure his release from Liverpool for the FIFA Club World Cup.

However, that outlay has already been recovered thanks to the club’s impressive performance in the tournament.

Following their victory over Juventus in the Round of 16, Los Blancos progressed to the quarter-finals, earning a substantial payout of €12.1 million for reaching that stage. The win not only kept them in contention for the title but also propelled them to the top of the Club World Cup earnings table, having amassed a total of €55.2 million thus far.

Even before the knockout phase began, Real Madrid had secured €31.4 million simply by qualifying for the competition. Their performance in the group stage—two wins and a draw—generated an additional €23.8 million in prize money. This meant that the club had already earned more than enough to cover Alexander-Arnold’s release fee before the quarter-finals even commenced.

Greater Rewards Await

The most lucrative stages of the tournament are still to come. Should Madrid advance to the semi-finals, they will receive a further €19.4 million. A place in the final would guarantee at least €27.7 million for the runners-up, or €37 million should they lift the trophy.

In total, €56.4 million remains up for grabs across the next three matches.

If Real Madrid maintain their current form, overcome Borussia Dortmund in the quarter-finals, and ultimately go on to win the tournament, they stand to finish with a staggering total of €132.99 million in earnings.

For context, when the Spanish giants claimed their 15th UEFA Champions League title last year—also against Borussia Dortmund—they earned €141 million in total.

These remarkable figures highlight just how financially significant success in the FIFA Club World Cup can be for Real Madrid. Not only have they already recouped their investment in Alexander-Arnold, but they are also poised to record unprecedented profits if they emerge as champions.