Xabi Alonso will depart Bayer Leverkusen at the end of the season, the Bundesliga club confirmed on Friday, bringing an end to a landmark two-and-a-half-year spell that saw the Spaniard lead the club to its first-ever German league title.
Alonso, 42, is widely expected to take over at Real Madrid, with reports indicating he is poised to sign a three-year contract to replace Carlo Ancelotti. The Italian is tipped to become the head coach of Brazil ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
The former midfield maestro guided Leverkusen to a historic unbeaten Bundesliga title in the 2023–24 campaign, ending Bayern Munich’s decade-long dominance and turning the club into one of Europe’s most exciting sides. His current contract was due to run until 2026, but both parties have agreed to a mutual early termination.
In a statement, Leverkusen’s shareholders’ committee chair Werner Wenning hailed Alonso’s impact, saying the former Spain international had been “an outstanding ambassador” for both the club and the Bundesliga.
Alonso expressed his gratitude to the club, players, staff, and fans, adding that Leverkusen had deserved the success they achieved together. “Our success was the result of an outstanding team performance,” he said, also paying tribute to the DFB-Pokal victory that completed a domestic double.
Alonso’s expected return to Madrid sees him take the reins at a club where he enjoyed five seasons as a player between 2009 and 2014, making 236 appearances. His familiarity with the Spanish capital and with the club’s high-pressure environment is expected to ease the transition.
Should the deal be confirmed, his first challenge will likely be the expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States, which begins on 15 June. Real Madrid are set to face Al Hilal, Pachuca and RB Salzburg in the group stage.
Madrid are also set to be bolstered by the anticipated arrival of Liverpool right-back Trent Alexander-Arnold, who is expected to join on a free transfer in the summer.
Back in Germany, Leverkusen are currently second in the Bundesliga and are expected to finish behind Bayern Munich this term, after last season’s triumph under Alonso’s stewardship delivered one of the most memorable campaigns in club history.
