Real Madrid announced Friday that defender David Alaba will leave the club when his contract expires on June 30, ending a five-year tenure in the Spanish capital.
The club said the decision was reached by mutual agreement and thanked the 33-year-old for his service. President Florentino Pérez praised Alaba’s dedication and highlighted his role in the team’s 2022 Champions League victory.
Alaba is set to be honored during Real Madrid’s final La Liga match of the season against Athletic Club on Saturday at the Santiago Bernabéu.
On Friday, teammate Kylian Mbappé posted an Instagram story addressing Alaba’s exit. The story, published four hours before being widely shared, showed the two players embracing at Real Madrid’s training ground. In the message, Mbappé called Alaba “my brother” and wrote that it was a difficult moment to close this chapter. He noted that Alaba went from being a rival to a teammate and friend, and said he would always support him. Mbappé ended the post by tagging Alaba’s account.
Alaba joined Real Madrid on a free transfer from Bayern Munich in July 2021. He made 131 appearances for the club, scoring five goals and providing nine assists. During his time in Madrid he won 11 major trophies, including two UEFA Champions League titles, two La Liga championships, two Spanish Super Cups, one Copa del Rey, two UEFA Super Cups and two Club World Cups.
His later seasons were limited by injuries, including an ACL tear in December 2023 that sidelined him for 13 months. Alaba, who captains Austria, is expected to lead his national team at the World Cup this summer. His next club has not been announced.