Dani Carvajal Exits Real Madrid After 23 Years

Real Madrid said on May 18 that captain Dani Carvajal will leave the club at the end of the 2025-26 season, ending a playing association that began in the academy in 2002. The Spanish club said it had agreed with Carvajal to “bring an end to a wonderful chapter” at the conclusion of the current campaign. The announcement closes a 23-season link between the defender and Madrid, spanning youth teams, Castilla, a season at Bayer Leverkusen and 13 years in the first team. The club said the Santiago Bernabéu will pay tribute to him on Saturday during Madrid’s final La Liga game. ### When exactly is Carvajal leaving Real Madrid? May 18 was the date Real Madrid published the official statement confirming that Carvajal’s spell as a player will end “at the conclusion of the current season.” The club did not announce a new team for him in that statement. Real Madrid’s first-team schedule page lists its final La Liga match of the season at the Bernabéu on Saturday, May 23, against Athletic Club. (realmadrid.com) October 6, 2024, was the date Real Madrid announced a contract extension for Carvajal through June 30, 2026. That renewal said he had joined the club at age 10 in 2002 and progressed through every youth level before reaching Castilla in 2010. ### How long was Carvajal at the club? Real Madrid’s player profile says Carvajal entered the academy setup on July 1, 2002, after earlier youth football at Lemans. (realmadrid.com) The profile lists his first-team Real Madrid spell from 2013 onward, following a 2012-13 season at Bayer Leverkusen. The club’s own accounting of that timeline underpins the “23 years” attached to his departure. (realmadrid.com) Real Madrid said in February that Carvajal had joined the academy in 2002 and was in his 13th season with the first team. ### What did he win with Real Madrid? January 11 was the date Real Madrid said Carvajal had amassed 27 trophies in 436 games for the club. (realmadrid.com) The breakdown given by the club was six Champions League titles, six Club World Cups, five UEFA Super Cups, four La Liga titles, four Spanish Super Cups and two Copa del Rey trophies. (realmadrid.com) February 17 brought an updated club note saying Carvajal was the player in the squad with the most matches played as a madridista, on 440, and still on 27 titles. His official player page now shows the same honors list and 2025-26 appearance data, with 22 matches and 1,001 minutes this season. (realmadrid.com) ### How did Real Madrid describe his place in club history? Real Madrid said in its May 18 statement that it wanted to express “gratitude and affection” to Carvajal and called him “one of the greatest legends of our club and world football.” The club did not add a replacement plan in the statement. (realmadrid.com) The same statement said the Bernabéu tribute would take place this Saturday because it will be the last league match Madrid play this season. That sets up a formal sendoff in front of home supporters before his exit takes effect. ### What comes next for Carvajal and Madrid? Saturday, May 23, is the next public milestone in Carvajal’s exit. (realmadrid.com) Real Madrid’s schedule lists Athletic Club as the opponent at the Santiago Bernabéu, and the club said the stadium will honor its captain that day. Beyond that tribute, the May 18 announcement said only that Carvajal and his family were wished well “in this new stage of his life.”