Carvajal to leave Real Madrid at end of season

Real Madrid announced Monday that veteran right back Dani Carvajal will leave the club at the end of the season after the decision was made not to extend the 34-year-old's contract.

Real Madrid's Dani Carvajal vies with Athletic Club's Alex Berenguer during the La Liga football match between Real Madrid and Athletic Club at Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid, Spain, on March 31, 2024. (Photo by Gustavo Valiente/Xinhua)

"Real Madrid C.F. and our captain Dani Carvajal have agreed to bring an end to a wonderful chapter as a player of our club at the conclusion of the current season," read a club statement.

"Real Madrid wishes to express its gratitude and affection to one of the greatest legends of our club and world football," the statement added, noting that Carvajal is one of only five players to have won six European Cup titles.

Carvajal joined Real Madrid at the age of 10 and was chosen to ceremonially lay the first stone of the club's Valdebebas training ground alongside Alfredo Di Stefano. Apart from one season at Bayer Leverkusen, after which Madrid activated a buy-back clause, he has spent his entire career at the club, making 450 appearances in all competitions and scoring 14 goals.

Real Madrid president Florentino Perez described Carvajal as "a legend and a symbol of Real Madrid and its academy."

"Carvajal has always exemplified the values of Real Madrid. This is and will always be his home," Perez said.

Carvajal has struggled with injuries this season, undergoing knee surgery and also suffering muscle problems, but he started Sunday's 1-0 win away to Sevilla and wore the captain's armband in what proved to be a preview of Monday's announcement.

His final appearance for the club is expected to come against Athletic Club next weekend.