Dani Carvajal will bring the curtain down on a remarkable 23-year association with Real Madrid at the end of the season, closing one of the most successful chapters in the club’s modern history.
The 34-year-old right-back will depart when his contract expires at the end of June, ending two spells at the Santiago Bernabéu that saw him rise from academy prospect to club captain and one of the most decorated players in football history.
Carvajal leaves with an extraordinary 27 trophies after making 450 appearances and scoring 14 goals for Los Blancos.
His journey began in 2002 when he joined Real Madrid’s youth academy before spending a season at Bayer Leverkusen, where his performances prompted Madrid to activate a buy-back clause and bring him back ahead of the 2013-14 campaign.
From there, Carvajal established himself as a key figure in one of the club’s most dominant eras, helping Real Madrid win six UEFA Champions League titles — a feat achieved by only a handful of players in football history.
He remains the only player to start in all six Champions League finals he won, underlining his importance in the club’s European dominance.
His trophy haul also includes four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey trophies, six FIFA Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, and four Spanish Super Cups.
At international level, Carvajal became a regular for Spain national football team after making his debut in 2014, earning 51 caps and helping the country win the UEFA Nations League Finals and the UEFA European Championship.
One of the standout moments of his career came in the 2024 Champions League final against Borussia Dortmund, where he scored the opening goal and was named man of the match.
However, recurring injuries have limited his impact in recent seasons, including a cruciate ligament tear in 2024 and another serious knee injury a year later.
The arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool F.C. last summer also signaled a transition at right-back, with the England defender becoming the club’s preferred option.
Real Madrid President Florentino Pérez described Carvajal as “a legend and a symbol of Real Madrid.”
“Carvajal has always exemplified the values of Real Madrid. This is and will always be his home,” he said.
The club will honour Carvajal during its final La Liga match of the season against Athletic Club at the Santiago Bernabéu.
His departure marks more than the exit of a player — it signals the end of an era for Real Madrid, as another iconic figure from one of football’s greatest dynasties says goodbye.
