Barcelona full-back Jordi Alba will leave the Catalan club at the end of this season on a free transfer, it was announced on Wednesday.
Jordi Alba has a contract with Barca until 2024 but an agreement has been reached for him to leave this summer after 11 years in the Barcelona first team.
A club statement on Wednesday read: “Barcelona and Jordi Alba have reached an agreement to terminate the player’s contract with the club which will run until the end of the 2023-24 season.
“Barcelona would like to publicly thank Alba for her professionalism, commitment and dedication, as well as her always positive and friendly relationship with all members of the Barca family. We wish her all the best of luck in the future. Barca will always be home to you, Jordy. “
Sunday’s game against Mallorca at Spotify’s Camp Nou will be Alba’s last home game for the Blaugrana and a chance to say goodbye to the supporters.
Barca, who have already clinched the LaLiga title, then close out the season at Celta Vigo the following weekend, in what will be Alba’s final appearance for the club.
Club captain Sergio Busquets will also say goodbye to Barca fans on Sunday after announcing earlier this month that he would not be renewing his contract, which expires in June.
Jordi Alba has yet to confirm what his next steps will be, but along with Busquets, he has previously been linked with a move to Saudi Arabia.
“Thanks to my parents and brother for everything they have taught me; to my friends who have shared the journey with me; and to all my teammates, staff, coaches, president and employees who have been with me for 18 years in total with this club,” Alba said in a video on her social media accounts.
Thanks also to my children for the strength they give me every day and to my wife for everything she does, without them none of this would be possible.
“My biggest dream has always been to play for Barcelona and my memories are full of lifetime moments which I will remember fondly. Growing up in the academy was one of the most special moments of my life. After seven years, I had to leave, only to come back a few time then for the moment I dreamed of, playing for the first team and coming home with a presentation at Camp Nou. It was a unique moment.”
“Eleven seasons later, I am proud and satisfied with all that we have accomplished together. It wasn’t all good, there were some tricky moments, but we always got through it united.”
“I will miss running down the wing at Camp Nou feeling the support and affection from the fans. Who would say that a nine year old entering Barca’s academy will achieve so much with the club in their lifetime? I feel very lucky.”
“After all that, after thinking about it carefully, this is the right moment to step aside. So, I want to announce that this is my last season as a Barça player. It was not an easy decision, but I leave happy.” and with peace of mind because I believe that it is the best thing to do.”
Barcelona also negotiated a deal with Italian club Inter Milan last summer, although Alba’s reluctance to leave meant those talks fell through.
However, having lost his place to Alejandro Balde this season at left-back, Alba has decided now is the time to seek a new challenge at his boyhood club.
Alba first joined Barca’s academy in 1998 but left in 2005, spending time with Cornella and Valencia before returning to Camp Nou in 2012 for a fee of €14 million.
He has made over 450 appearances for the club, winning six LaLiga titles, five Copa del Reys and one Champions League.
