Alexander-Arnold F1 stake: £600m Alpine sale discussions, Liverpool 2026

Key Points

• Trent Alexander-Arnold owns shares in Alpine F1 by way of his association with Otro Capital, which purchased 24% of the shares in 2023.
• The lock-up period for three years is now over, permitting the investors to sell upon getting prior approval.
• Otro Capital is in negotiations with various parties, with a plan to make triple their profits from the £173.2m investment.
• Mercedes backed off from negotiations in May after determining that the price tag of £606.3m was too steep. A party associated with Christian Horner is said to be interested in making the purchase.
• Along with Alexander-Arnold, Rory McIlroy and Anthony Joshua were associated with Otro Capital, along with Juan Mata, Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes.
• Meanwhile, there have been speculations that Liverpool would be looking to sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid in January 2027.

Liverpool (Liverpool standard) September 16, 2026 – Former Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold could be set for a major financial windfall following his investment in Formula 1 team Alpine, as discussions continue over a potential sale of the Enstone-based outfit that could value the team at around £600m. The Real Madrid right-back bought into the Renault-owned squad in 2023 as part of Otro Capital, a consortium that also includes golf star Rory McIlroy and boxing champion Anthony Joshua. With a three-year lock-in period now expired, the investor group is free to pursue a sale, and multiple buyers are said to be in the frame as F1 team valuations continue to climb.

What is the Trent Alexander-Arnold cash boost linked to Alpine F1?

The cash boost linked to Trent Alexander-Arnold stems from his stake in Alpine F1, acquired through Otro Capital when the group purchased a 24% shareholding in the team for £173.2m in 2023. According to City AM, as cited in reporting by the Liverpool Echo, the deal included terms that restricted investors from selling for three years without advance consent, a condition that has now lapsed. That change clears the path for Otro Capital to capitalise on soaring F1 valuations, with the consortium understood to be aiming for a three-fold return on its original investment.

Otro Capital’s investor roster extends beyond Alexander-Arnold, McIlroy and Joshua to include former Manchester United midfielder Juan Mata and NFL stars Travis Kelce and Patrick Mahomes, all of whom could benefit financially if a sale proceeds. Alexander-Arnold, a known Formula 1 enthusiast, was recently spotted at the Spanish Grand Prix at the Madrid circuit, where he visited the Alpine garage ahead of the race. At the time of his investment in 2023, he said he was “excited” to join Otro Capital’s group as an investor into Alpine F1 alongside his brother Tyler, adding that he loved the “high-pressure environment of the paddock” and had seen “first-hand how incredibly impressive the Alpine team is”.

How much is Alpine F1 worth in the current sale discussions?

Current sale discussions around Alpine F1 have centred on an asking price in the region of £606.3m, according to reporting referenced by the Liverpool Echo. Mercedes, which had been in negotiations earlier in the year, withdrew from talks in May after concluding that the valuation was excessive. Despite that setback, interest in the team remains strong, with a group associated with former Red Bull team principal Christian Horner believed to be showing interest as F1 franchise values continue to rise across the sport.

Whether Otro Capital can secure a three-fold profit on its £173.2m investment remains uncertain, given the scale of the asking price and the competitive dynamics among potential buyers. The consortium has engaged in discussions with several prospective purchasers, leveraging the broader surge in F1 team valuations to push for a premium exit from its 2023 entry point. The outcome of these talks will determine the size of any financial return for Alexander-Arnold and his fellow investors, with the expired lock-in period now removing a key structural barrier to a transaction.

Why are Liverpool considering a move to re-sign Trent Alexander-Arnold?

Separate from the F1 investment story, multiple reports indicate that Liverpool are considering a move to re-sign Trent Alexander-Arnold from Real Madrid, potentially in the January 2027 transfer window. According to Spanish outlet Fichajes, as summarised by The Hard Tackle, Liverpool are eager to bolster their defensive unit by signing a right-back in one of the next two windows and have identified the 27-year-old England international as a target. The report notes that Jose Mourinho has preferred Denzel Dumfries as the primary right-back at Real Madrid this season, leaving Alexander-Arnold as a second-choice option.

Liverpool’s interest is framed by squad needs at right-back, with The Hard Tackle noting that Conor Bradley’s absence has exposed shortcomings in the position and that Jeremie Frimpong has been inconsistent since arriving. Manager Andoni Iraola has reportedly used centre-back Ronald Araujo and midfielder Dominik Szoboszlai as makeshift solutions at right-back in the early stages of the 2026/27 campaign, underlining the desire for a more permanent fix. While other candidates, including Pierre Kalulu, are on Liverpool’s wishlist, Alexander-Arnold’s familiarity with the club’s system and Anfield makes him an appealing, low-risk option despite his departure in 2026.

FC Liverpool News, citing the Mirror, reports that Liverpool have identified eight potential targets for January 2027, with a possible reunion with Alexander-Arnold among them alongside a high-profile approach for a Chelsea attacker. The outlet states that no bids have been made and that internal discussions are underway about feasibility and timing, with personal terms not seen as a barrier should a deal progress. Alexander-Arnold left Liverpool earlier in 2026 after losing his starting role, but his knowledge of the club’s tactics and culture could allow him to reintegrate quickly if a return materialises.

What has Trent Alexander-Arnold said about his Alpine F1 investment?

When he joined Otro Capital’s investment into Alpine F1 in 2023, Trent Alexander-Arnold issued a statement highlighting his enthusiasm for the sport and the team. “I’m excited to be joining Otro Capital’s group as an investor into Alpine F1 along with my brother Tyler,” he said at the time. He added: “Having been to Formula 1 races as a fan, I love the high-pressure environment of the paddock and I’ve seen first-hand how incredibly impressive the Alpine team is.”

Alexander-Arnold also linked his football background to the demands of F1, stating:

“Our shared goal as an investment group is to help contribute to its continued success on the grid, at a time when F1 is facing incredible growth as a sport.”

He continued: “

As a footballer, I understand the importance of teamwork, innovation and determination in achieving goals.” Those remarks, made at the point of investment, provide context for his long-standing interest in the sport and his willingness to commit capital alongside high-profile names from golf, boxing and American football.

Background to the Alpine F1 investment and sale development

The development around a potential Alpine F1 sale traces back to 2023, when Otro Capital acquired a 24% stake in the Renault-owned team for £173.2m, with Alexander-Arnold, McIlroy and Joshua among the investors. The deal included a three-year lock-in, meaning the group could only sell within that period with advance consent, a clause designed to stabilise ownership during a period of growth for the sport. By 2026, that restriction had expired, enabling Otro Capital to explore exit options as F1 team valuations increased markedly.

Mercedes’ withdrawal from negotiations in May, citing an excessive £606.3m price tag, highlighted the gap between seller expectations and some buyers’ assessments, yet interest from other parties, including a group linked to Christian Horner, suggests the market remains active. City AM’s reporting, as referenced by the Liverpool Echo, indicates that Otro Capital is targeting a three-fold profit on its original outlay, a figure that would translate into a substantial return for all investors in the consortium if achieved. The convergence of an unlocked stake, rising valuations and multiple interested parties has created the conditions for the current round of sale discussions.

Prediction: how could this development affect Liverpool fans and F1 investors?

If a sale of Alpine F1 proceeds at or near the reported valuation, Trent Alexander-Arnold and his fellow Otro Capital investors could receive a significant financial return, reinforcing the profile of athletes as serious participants in high-value sports investments. For Liverpool supporters, the immediate effect is indirect: the story underscores Alexander-Arnold’s continued visibility in global sport even after his 2026 departure from Anfield, while parallel reports of a potential January 2027 return keep his name in transfer conversations. Should Liverpool pursue a reunion, fans may weigh the benefits of his familiarity with the club against the circumstances of his exit and his recent role at Real Madrid.

For F1 investors and observers, the Alpine episode illustrates how quickly team values can move and how ownership structures can create delayed but sizeable payouts once lock-in periods end. A successful sale at a premium could encourage more athlete-led consortia to enter the sport, while a prolonged negotiation or a lower final price might temper expectations for future deals. In both football and Formula 1, the key variable remains execution: whether buyers agree to the sellers’ valuation, and whether any football transfer involving Alexander-Arnold aligns with Liverpool’s sporting plans under Andoni Iraola.