Jordi Alba to leave Barcelona at end of season
Barcelona’s long-serving defender, Jordi Alba, has officially announced his departure from the club after spending 11 seasons at Camp Nou.
The news of Alba’s departure broke on Wednesday morning and was later confirmed by both the player and the club.
Alba began his career at Barcelona’s youth academy but had stints at Gimnastic de Tarragona, Cornella, and Valencia before joining the Catalan giants in the summer of 2012.
During his time at Barcelona, Alba amassed an impressive collection of 17 trophies, including 6 La Liga titles, 5 Copa del Rey titles, and a Champions League triumph. Over the course of his 11-year tenure, he made 458 appearances, scoring 29 goals and providing 99 assists. He will have the opportunity to add to these numbers in the remaining matches against Celta Vigo and Real Mallorca before the season’s end.
💙❤️ GRÀCIES 💙❤️ GRACIAS 💙❤️ THANK YOU 💙❤️ pic.twitter.com/2pARAdY02j
— Jordi Alba (@JordiAlba) May 24, 2023
Expressing his gratitude, Alba thanked his family, the fans, the club, its presidents, players, and staff for enabling him to fulfill his childhood dream of playing for Barcelona.
In an official statement, Barcelona confirmed Alba’s departure and expressed appreciation for his consistently positive and friendly demeanor, which endeared him to the entire Barcelona family. While occasionally controversial on the field, he is highly regarded within the club.
Alba’s contract will be mutually terminated, with reports suggesting that he will forgo a significant portion of his remaining salary. This move aligns with Barcelona’s efforts to reduce their wage bill and marks a significant step in that direction.
Similar to Sergio Busquets, Alba will bid farewell to Camp Nou for the final time as a player in the upcoming match against Mallorca on Sunday. Both players will be remembered as two of the greatest, if not the best, in their respective positions in Barcelona’s illustrious history. Alba, at the age of 34, has been a consistent force over the past decade, often forming a formidable partnership with Lionel Messi.
