Jordi Alba will leave Barcelona where he plays as a defender at the end of the existing season as a free agent.
According to the report which was announced on Wednesday, an agreement has been reached for 34 years old Jordi Alba to leave this summer after 11 years in the first team.
“Barcelona and Jordi Alba have reached an agreement to terminate the player’s contract with the club which was due to run until the end of the 2023-24 season, a statement from the club read.
“Jordi Alba, who has made the left side of the field his own in over a decade at Barca, is leaving the club as the third captain of the senior team, bringing an end to a glittering career”
“Barcelona would like to publicly express gratitude to Alba for his professionalism, commitment and dedication, and his ever-positive and friendly relationship with all members of the Barca family. We wish him every fortune in the future. Barca will always be a home for you, Jordi,” it continued.
Sunday’s match against Mallorca at Spotify Camp Nou will be his last home game for Barcelona and his chance to say goodbye to the supporters.
Jordi Alba has played more than 450 games for Barcelona, winning the Champions League in 2015, six LaLiga titles, five Copa del Rey titles, four Spanish Super Cups, and the Club World Cup.
The Spain international came in through Barcelona’s La Masia academy but left in 2005 and made a name for himself at Valencia, before rejoining the Catalan club in 2012.
Jordi Alba who is the third long-serving player to leave Barcelona this season, made 23 league appearances this season as Barca won their 27th LaLiga title earlier this month, however, he was benched for a large number of those appearances, with manager Xavi Hernandez preferring to start 19-year-old Alejandro Balde.
Club captain Sergio Busquets will also bid farewell to Barca fans on Sunday after announcing earlier this month thathe will not renew his contract, which expires in June.
Alba has not yet said what his next move will be but along with Busquets, he is been speculated to go to Saudi Arabia.
“Thanks to my parents and my brother for all they have taught me; to my friends for sharing the journey with me; and to all teammates, staff, coaches, presidents and employees I have coincided with during 18 years in total with this club,” Alba said in a video on his social media account.
“Thanks also to my children for the strength they give me every day and to my wife for all she does, without them none of this is possible”.
