David Alaba signs for Udinese after leaving Real Madrid

David Alaba has found a new home. The 34-year-old Austrian defender will play for Udinese next season as a free agent, closing a five-year chapter at Real Madrid. The Serie A club announced the signing on Thursday, bringing in a centre-back with a trophy-laden career and a clear desire to keep competing at the highest level.

• Alaba has signed a one-year deal with Udinese after leaving Real Madrid as a free agent.
• He played 132 matches for the Spanish club, scoring five goals and winning eleven trophies.
• Udinese teased the move with a photo of a folding chair, referencing his famous 2022 celebration.
• Before joining Real Madrid, Alaba starred at Bayern Munich, where he won two Champions Leagues and ten Bundesliga titles.

How Udinese announced the signing of Alaba

Udinese confirmed the Austrian's arrival with a statement highlighting his profile as a footballer. The Friulian club pointed to his outstanding technical quality, his leadership and his tactical versatility, three strengths that have allowed him to perform at the highest level for more than a decade at two of Europe's most demanding clubs.

The official announcement came after a very special clue. A day earlier, the club from northern Italy posted a photo of a folding chair placed in the middle of the pitch. The reference pointed directly to one of the most memorable celebrations in recent European football: Alaba with a chair on his head after Real Madrid's victory over Manchester City in the 2022 Champions League semi-finals.

Alaba's Real Madrid record: eleven trophies and an unforgettable Champions League

Alaba arrived at Real Madrid in 2021 from Bayern Munich and quickly became an important piece of the team. During his five seasons in the Spanish capital he played 132 official matches and scored five goals, modest numbers for a defender who stood out more for his ball distribution, his tactical intelligence and his ability to fill different positions across the back line.

In a Real Madrid shirt he lifted eleven trophies: two Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups, two LaLiga crowns, one Copa del Rey and two Spanish Super Cups. His time in Madrid was defined above all by the 2022 Champions League, the campaign remembered for a series of dramatic comebacks against PSG, Chelsea and Manchester City.

I have lived through many experiences and won a lot throughout my career, but one thing has not changed: I still want to win. I still want to compete. And I want to achieve something special again. That is the mentality I am bringing to Udinese.

From Austria Vienna to Bayern: the rise of a complete defender

Before his spell in Spain, Alaba built his reputation in Germany. He came through the youth ranks at Austria Vienna and was signed by Bayern Munich at just 16 years old, where he spent the majority of his career. With the Bavarian giants he won two Champions League titles, two Club World Cups, two European Super Cups and ten Bundesliga crowns, among other honours.

A full Austria international since the age of 17, he has earned more than one hundred caps for his country and has been the leading figure of Austrian football for years. His ability to operate as a centre-back, left-back or even in midfield has made him one of the most complete defenders of his generation.

What Alaba brings to Udinese in Serie A

Udinese are signing a player accustomed to fighting for every trophy, experience that could prove decisive for a club looking to establish itself among the elite of Italian football. Alaba arrives in Serie A at 34 with a body that has suffered some injuries in recent seasons, but with the authority and understanding of the game that only comes from competing at the top level for so long.

Beyond his performances on the pitch, the Austrian will bring leadership to a young dressing room. His message after signing was clear: he is not satisfied with what he has achieved and still wants to win. That ambition fits with an Udinese project that hopes to take a step forward with the arrival of a player of his stature.

The Alaba chair, story of a viral celebration

Alaba's connection with the folding chair was born on a night of madness at the Santiago Bernabéu. After Real Madrid's comeback against Manchester City in the 2022 Champions League semi-finals, the defender appeared on the pitch with a white chair on his head while celebrating qualification for the final. The image went around the world and became one of the symbols of that unforgettable competition.

That spontaneous gesture resonated so strongly with Madrid fans that the chair became part of the iconography of the club's fourteenth European Cup. Udinese used the image to announce his signing, a detail that shows just how deeply the Austrian's celebration remained etched in the memory of European football.

Frequently asked questions about Alaba's move to Udinese