Real Madrid officially announced on Tuesday, through a statement, the departure of defender Nacho Fernández, captain of the first team who recently lifted the Fifteenth title at Wembley Stadium and who joined the club at ten years old.

The defender joined Real Madrid as a youth player in 2001, at the age of 10, becoming part of the academy and progressing through the ranks until making his first-team debut under Portuguese coach Jose Mourinho in April 2011, starting in a resounding victory at Mestalla against Valencia in the penultimate matchday of La Liga (3-6).

Since then, he has played 12 seasons in the first team, culminating in 2024 by lifting three titles as captain - the Spanish Super Cup, La Liga, and the Champions League - thus becoming, along with Croatian Luka Modric, the player with the most trophies in Real Madrid's history - 26: 6 Champions Leagues, 5 Club World Cups, 4 European Super Cups, 4 La Liga titles, 2 Copa del Rey titles, and 5 Spanish Super Cups in 364 matches.

Additionally, with the Spanish national team, he won the U-21 European Championship and the Nations League and is currently participating in the 2024 Euro Cup in Germany.

"All Real Madrid fans feel the utmost pride for one of the most legendary homegrown players in our history," Real Madrid published on their website, along with words of gratitude from club president Florentino Pérez.

"Since he arrived at our academy as a child, Nacho has always been an example of perseverance for everyone and leaves with the affection, recognition, and admiration of all Madridismo. Real Madrid is and will always be his home," he stated.

Furthermore, the club "wishes him and his family the best of luck in this new chapter of his life," where he is expected to play in Saudi Arabia, at Al-Qadisiyah FC, recently promoted to the Arab League, backed by their coach, Spanish José Miguel González 'Míchel'.

Nacho Fernández announced his departure from Real Madrid five days before his current contract expires, which he did not renew despite being a regular starter for the team in a season where knee injuries to Éder Militao and David Alaba saw him play 45 matches and start for the first time in a Champions League final, winning the Fifteenth title.

His farewell to Real Madrid comes in the middle of the Euro Cup, so his departure ceremony from the club will have to wait until the competition concludes.