David Alaba will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after five years with the Spanish club, Madrid confirmed on Friday.
The Austrian defender joined Madrid from Bayern Munich and won 11 trophies during his time at the Bernabeu, including two Champions League titles and two La Liga crowns. He played 131 matches for the club.
Injuries disrupted Alaba’s final seasons in Spain and limited his involvement across multiple competitions. The 33-year-old struggled to maintain regular playing time after a series of serious fitness problems.
“Real Madrid wishes to express its gratitude and all its affection to a player who has been part of a team that has marked one of the most successful periods in our history,” the club said in a statement.
Alaba will say farewell to supporters during Madrid’s final league match of the season against Athletic Bilbao on Saturday. Dani Carvajal and departing coach Alvaro Arbeloa will also address the home crowd.
Alaba has not announced his next club. He will now focus on captaining Austria at the World Cup this summer.
Madrid signed Alaba to add experience, composure and passing quality to their defence after Sergio Ramos left the club in 2021. He adapted quickly and helped stabilise the back line during Carlo Ancelotti’s first title-winning campaign after returning to Madrid.
