Real Madrid has officially confirmed the departure of midfielder Dani Ceballos. The player will be leaving the club a year before his current contract expires, agreeing to forgo his final year’s salary as part of the agreement.
Ceballos, aged 29, joined Real Madrid from Real Betis in 2017 and spent two seasons on loan at Arsenal. During his tenure with the Blancos, he amassed an impressive trophy cabinet, including three Champions League titles (2018, 2022, 2024), two La Liga titles, and one Copa del Rey. Despite making 215 appearances for the club, he never managed to secure a regular starting position under any of the managers he worked with, including Zinedine Zidane and Carlo Ancelotti. While his importance saw an increase in his final season under Ancelotti, he was once again sidelined in his last few months at the club.
Over his seven seasons with the first team, Ceballos played in 215 matches and won a total of 16 titles: 3 European Cups, 4 Club World Cups, 3 European Super Cups, 2 La Liga championships, 1 Copa del Rey, and 3 Spanish Super Cups.
Reflecting on his departure, Ceballos expressed his gratitude and pride in a heartfelt letter: “I leave with a clear conscience, knowing that I have given my all for this crest, that I have defended these colours with pride and with all my heart, and that I take with me memories that will remain etched in my mind forever. Real Madrid will always be a part of me, and I will always be grateful to them.”
Ceballos’ future remains uncertain. While rumors have suggested a potential return to his childhood club, Betis, the Seville-based outfit faces financial challenges in matching his reported salary of approximately 5 million euros at Real Madrid, according to reports from AS.