In a seismic shift for both Bayer Leverkusen and European football, Xabi Alonso has officially announced his departure from the Bundesliga club at the end of the 2024-25 season, with widespread reports indicating he will take the helm at Real Madrid. The 43-year-old Spanish tactician, who transformed Leverkusen into a domestic powerhouse, confirmed the decision in a press conference on May 9, 2025, bringing an end to months of speculation about his future. According to posts on X from Sky Germany’s Florian Plettenberg, Alonso personally informed Leverkusen’s board of his intent to leave, with Real Madrid as his next destination.
Alonso’s tenure at Leverkusen, which began in October 2022 when the club was languishing near the Bundesliga’s relegation zone, has been nothing short of remarkable. He led the team to an unprecedented unbeaten Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal double in the 2023-24 season, earning plaudits for his tactical acumen and composed leadership. However, the 2024-25 campaign saw Leverkusen struggle to maintain their dominance, with a 2-2 draw against Freiburg on May 4 sealing Bayern Munich’s reclaiming of the Bundesliga title. Despite securing Champions League qualification and a record-equaling 33-match unbeaten away streak in the league, the season’s disappointments, including a German Cup semi-final loss to third-tier Arminia Bielefeld, fueled speculation about Alonso’s next move.
The move to Real Madrid, where Alonso played from 2009 to 2014, fulfills a long-rumored ambition. Reports from ESPN and The Mirror indicate that a gentleman’s agreement with Leverkusen allowed Alonso to depart for one of his former clubs—Real Madrid, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, or Real Sociedad—without significant obstacles. Leverkusen CEO Fernando Carro had previously acknowledged this arrangement, stating in April 2025 that the club would not stand in Alonso’s way if he chose to leave. Bild reported that Leverkusen will receive a double-digit million-euro fee for the transfer, a detail confirmed by Yahoo Sports, reflecting the club’s pragmatic approach to their manager’s exit.
Alonso’s departure coincides with uncertainty surrounding Carlo Ancelotti’s future at Real Madrid, particularly after the club’s Champions League quarter-final exit to Arsenal in April 2025. Ancelotti, whose contract runs until 2026, has been linked with a potential move to coach the Brazilian national team, according to Sportstar. Real Madrid president Florentino Perez has long viewed Alonso as the ideal successor, with sources from Teamtalk noting his belief that Alonso can unlock the potential of Madrid’s star-studded squad. Alonso’s reluctance to commit to Leverkusen beyond this season, as reported by Reuters, and his evasive comments about his future in recent weeks, as covered by BBC Sport, had already hinted at an imminent move.
The announcement has sent ripples through Leverkusen, with the club now bracing for additional high-profile exits. Star midfielder Florian Wirtz, a reported target for Bayern Munich and Real Madrid, could follow Alonso, according to Football-espana.net. Granit Xhaka, who expressed a measured acceptance of Alonso’s potential departure in comments to Yahoo Sports, is also linked with moves to Galatasaray and Saudi Arabia. Leverkusen has already begun the search for Alonso’s replacement, with names like former Manchester United boss Erik ten Hag, ex-Liverpool defender Alvaro Arbeloa, and Brighton’s Fabian Hürzler in the frame, per Yahoo Sports and kicker.
Alonso’s exit marks the end of a transformative chapter for Leverkusen, where he won 88 of 136 matches across all competitions, per Outlook India. His legacy as the architect of their historic 2023-24 season will endure, but the focus now shifts to his anticipated challenge at Real Madrid, where he is expected to be in place before the FIFA Club World Cup in mid-June 2025.