Real Madrid announced on Friday, May 22, 2026, that defender David Alaba will leave the club upon the expiration of his contract at the end of the season.
The 33-year-old Austria captain will end his five-year tenure at the Bernabeu, where he secured 11 trophies, including two La Liga titles and two Champions Leagues.
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Alaba made 131 appearances for Real Madrid since joining from Bayern Munich in 2021.
He will play his final home match at the Bernabeu on Saturday against Athletic Bilbao before traveling to captain Austria at the World Cup in North America.
His final seasons in Spain were heavily disrupted by injuries, including a serious left knee anterior cruciate ligament rupture in December 2023 and a subsequent meniscus tear.
Those injuries limited him to just 15 competitive appearances this season.
Real Madrid president Florentino Perez praised the defender's contributions and iconic celebrations during his successful spell with the Spanish giants.
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"David Alaba has earned the affection of all Madrid fans for his dedication, his hard work, and for an iconic image on our path to the 14 European Cup, which symbolised the celebration of a victory and is now part of our club’s history," said Perez.
The club president reaffirmed the long-standing bond between the organization and the departing player following the official announcement.
"Real Madrid will always be his home," added Perez.
The announcement follows news that captain Dani Carvajal will also leave the club as a free agent this summer.
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Manchester United, AC Milan, and clubs in the United States and Saudi Arabia are reportedly monitoring Alaba's situation.
