Official: Udinese sign four-time Champions League winner Alaba
Quick summary
Udinese have officially signed David Alaba on a free transfer, bringing the four-time Champions League winner to Serie A from Real Madrid.
Full article
Attributed to original sourceUdinese have officially announced their signing of four-time Champions League-winning defender David Alaba on a free transfer until the end of the 2026-27 season.
Official: Alaba joins Udinese on free transfer Alaba, 34, has been available as a free agent after leaving Real Madrid at the end of his five-year contract earlier this summer. He has put pen to paper on a contract until the end of the 2026-27 season with Kosta Runjaic’s side, who find themselves in 13th place in the Serie A table after five matches, with one win, one draw and three defeats on their record.
With 10 Bundesliga titles, two LaLiga trophies, four Champions League winners medals, plus numerous other domestic, continental and intercontinental honours in his collection, Alaba becomes the most decorated player currently active in Serie A, overtaking his former Madrid teammate Luka Modric.
MADRID, SPAIN – DECEMBER 20: David Alaba of Real Madrid warms up prior to the LaLiga EA Sports match between Real Madrid CF and Sevilla FC at Estadio Santiago Bernabeu on December 20, 2025 in Madrid, Spain. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images) “The signing of David Alaba is a source of enormous pride for the whole club,” said Udinese general manager Franco Collavino. “We’re welcoming an established champion, a leader and an exemplary professional. His arrival demonstrates Udinese’s desire to grow and compete at the highest levels.”
Alaba himself said: “I’ve had a lot of different experiences and I’ve won a lot during my career, but one thing hasn’t changed: I want to compete and win again. I still want to achieve something special and that is the mentality I will bring to Udinese.”
Udinese will next be in action after the international break, away against Torino at 19.45 BST on Monday, October 12.
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What happened
Udinese have announced the free transfer signing of David Alaba, the decorated Austrian defender who won four Champions League titles during his career with Bayern Munich and Real Madrid. The 32-year-old had been sidelined at Real Madrid due to a long-term ACL injury suffered in late 2023 and did not feature for the Spanish side last season. His arrival represents a significant statement of intent for Udinese, who are securing a player of elite pedigree on a free deal. The move marks Alaba's return to competitive football after a lengthy recovery period.
Chance analysis
David Alaba's move to Udinese is one of the more eye-catching free transfers of the window. A four-time Champions League winner and one of the most decorated defenders of his generation, Alaba arrives in Italy carrying significant pedigree but also major question marks after a devastating ACL injury that kept him out for over a year. For Udinese, the deal underlines their ambition to punch above their weight in Serie A, though the club will need to manage expectations around his fitness and minutes. The transfer is as much a marketing and prestige play as it is a sporting one — the kind of signal that could help attract further talent to the Friuli.
Alaba's signing bolsters Udinese's defensive depth and prestige, though his match readiness after a long injury layoff remains the key variable.