Veteran defender David Alaba is expected to depart Real Madrid on a free transfer when his contract expires in June 2026, as the Spanish club prepares for a defensive overhaul under coach Xabi Alonso.
Alaba, 33, joined Real Madrid from Bayern Munich in the summer of 2021 on a free transfer and signed a deal that runs until the summer of 2026. He quickly made an impact at the Bernabéu, helping the club to domestic and European honours, including a key role in the Champions League-winning squad of 2022. However, a serious anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury sustained in December 2023 and a series of subsequent setbacks have taken their toll on his availability and form.
Sources within Real Madrid suggest that the club sees Alaba’s contract year as his final chapter at the club. Internal plans indicate that he will not be offered a renewal, with younger options and incoming free agents earmarked to replace him. The club has already begun exploring targets such as Ibrahima Konaté and Marc Guehi to refresh the central-defending ranks from summer 2026.
Alaba himself has publicly dismissed rumours of a current departure, stating that he intends to fulfil his contract. “I’ve been in football long enough; rumours are part of the game,” he said in September 2025. But despite his personal desire to stay, the club’s strategic vision may leave him on the periphery during his final season.
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The upcoming campaign thus represents a transitional phase for both player and club. Real Madrid are poised to rebuild a key defensive unit around younger legs, while Alaba must prove he still has the fitness and form to contribute meaningfully. Should he depart in 2026 as anticipated, it would mark the end of a chapter that began with much promise and decorated success.
For Alaba, the move signals the next stage of his career: perhaps a short-term contract elsewhere or a return to the Austrian national fold with full focus ahead of potential World Cup involvement.