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David Alaba is the latest confirmed summer departure from Real Madrid, set to leave the Santiago Bernabéu when his contract comes to an end on June 30.
Los Blancos made the announcement on Friday, thanking Alaba for his service during his spell in the Spanish capital and pledging to pay tribute to the Austrian defender during the club's final home fixture of the season against Athletic Club in La Liga.
The news follows a similar announcement earlier this week confirming that Dani Carvajal will also be departing next month.
"David Alaba has won the hearts of all Madrid supporters through his commitment, his effort, and for an unforgettable moment on our journey to the fourteenth European Cup, which came to represent the joy of triumph and is now etched into our club's history," said president Florentino Pérez.
"Real Madrid will always be his home."
Alaba Leaves Real Madrid Unfulfiled
Alaba arrived at Real Madrid as a free agent in 2021 carrying a reputation as one of the finest center backs in the world, a status he had built over many years at Bayern Munich. However, persistent injuries meant he was never able to recapture his peak form or maintain consistent availability.
Over five seasons, 131 appearances across all competitions is a modest return, averaging fewer than 30 per campaign. His best year came in his debut season—2021–22—though he still missed the closing stages of the La Liga title run-in. He returned for that season's Champions League final victory against Liverpool, but muscular problems became more frequent the following year, before an ACL injury in December 2023 wiped out 13 months of his career and caused him to miss the entire 2024 calendar year.
The 33-year-old has struggled to fully recover, with ongoing muscle issues limiting him to just 17 La Liga appearances over the past 18 months. Having not started a game since early March, any farewell appearance for Real Madrid may well come from the substitutes' bench.
Where Next for Alaba?
Given his lengthy injury history, Alaba would likely benefit from a move to a less physically demanding league as he looks to see out the remaining years of his career.
A stay in Europe therefore seems unlikely, with Major League Soccer or the Saudi Pro League emerging as more probable destinations. Both competitions have become attractive options for veteran players departing Europe's top leagues, with MLS in particular experiencing a revival following Lionel Messi's move to Inter Miami in 2023.
Alaba has previously been linked with a transfer to Saudi Arabia, though his agent dismissed those reports at the time.