Real Madrid captain, Dani Carvajal, will bring his long association with Real Madrid to an end after the current season, closing a remarkable 23-year journey with the Spanish giants.
The club confirmed the decision on Monday in an official statement, hailing the veteran right-back as “one of the greatest legends of our club and world football.”
The 34-year-old departs the Santiago Bernabéu after an illustrious career that saw him collect 27 trophies, including six UEFA Champions League titles, six Club World Cups, four La Liga crowns and two Copa del Rey triumphs.
Carvajal is also one of only five players in football history to have won six European Cups.
He originally joined Madrid’s famed La Fábrica academy in 2002, spending a decade in the youth system before a brief stint at Bayer Leverkusen in 2012.
The defender returned to Madrid a year later and went on to cement his place as a key figure over 13 seasons with the senior team.
In total, he made 450 appearances for Los Blancos, scoring 14 goals while earning a reputation for consistency, leadership and success during one of the club’s most successful eras.
Individually, he was included in the FIFPro World XI in 2024, named in The Best FIFA Men’s World XI that same year, and was voted Player of the Match in the 2024 Champions League final after scoring in the final.
At international level, the Spain international earned 51 caps, helping the national team win Euro 2024 and the UEFA Nations League in 2023.
However, reports in Spain indicate he is expected to miss this summer’s FIFA World Cup due to injury issues during a difficult season for Madrid.
Real Madrid are set to finish a second straight season without a major trophy, with Carvajal expected to make his final appearance against Athletic Bilbao at the Santiago Bernabéu this weekend in La Liga.
Club president Florentino Pérez paid tribute to the departing captain, describing him as a lasting symbol of the institution.
“Dani Carvajal is a legend and an emblem of Real Madrid and its academy,” Pérez said.
“Carvajal has consistently embodied the values of Real Madrid in an exemplary manner. This is and always will be his home.”
A special farewell ceremony is also expected to take place at the Santiago Bernabéu during Saturday’s final league match of the season.
