David Alaba’s move to Udinese is close to the finish line. He has completed medical tests in Rome, has a verbal agreement in place and is now expected to travel north to sign as a free agent after leaving Real Madrid in June.
The move at the final stage
Fabrizio Romano wrote that Udinese have reached a verbal agreement with the 34-year-old, calling him a “dream signing” and adding that only formal steps remain before the move is wrapped up. That is still the key distinction here: the deal looks close, but the sources stop short of saying it is officially done.
His contract at the Bernabeu expired on June 30, so Udinese can move without a fee. Alaba has been out of contract since June and was not named in Austria’s upcoming UEFA Nations League squad, which removes an immediate international scheduling issue.
What Udinese are getting
The attraction is obvious enough. Alaba has won four Champions League trophies and 10 Bundesliga titles, and he made 16 appearances for Real Madrid last season. He also missed a long spell after an ACL tear in December 2023, so Udinese are taking on experience and pedigree, but also a player who will need time to get fully up to speed.
That fits the club’s current situation. Udinese opened the Serie A season with one win, one draw and three defeats, and they sit 19th in the table. They have scored eight and conceded 11 in their last five league matches, and their next league game is away to Torino on October 12.
The transfer should give Kosta Runjaic another senior option in a squad that needs stability as much as names. The paperwork still has to be completed, but the move now feels much closer to reality than rumour.
Written by Daniel Hartley with AI-assisted research, cross-checked against 5 outlets. How we work →
