Jesus Vallejo Officially Departs Real Madrid After Nearly a Decade

Real Madrid has officially announced the departure of center-back Jesus Vallejo on Friday, May 30, 2024. The 28-year-old defender will exit Santiago Bernabéu at the end of June when his contract expires, concluding a nine-year journey marked more by loan spells than playing time with the first team.

Vallejo joined Los Blancos in 2015 from Real Zaragoza for a reported fee of €5 million. Despite early expectations positioning him as the future of Madrid’s backline, Vallejo struggled to secure a permanent spot in the senior squad.

Over five seasons, he made only 35 appearances across all competitions, scoring one goal and providing one assist.  

Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/jack-grealish-napoli-transfer-rumor-summer-2025 Though often on the fringes of the squad, Vallejo’s trophy cabinet tells a different story.

The Spanish defender accumulated an impressive 13 titles during his time with Real Madrid. These include two UEFA Champions League trophies (2017/18 and 2021/22), a La Liga title in 2019/20, four FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cups, one Copa del Rey, and two Spanish Super Cups.

Vallejo holds a remarkable statistic: he averaged one trophy every 160 minutes played, a rare feat in elite football. Across 2,072 total minutes on the pitch for Madrid, his impact may not have always been visible, but his presence coincided with one of the most dominant periods in the club’s modern history.

Real Madrid issued a heartfelt statement: “The club thanks Jesus Vallejo for his professionalism, dedication, and hard work throughout the years. We wish him and his family all the best in the next chapter of their lives.” Vallejo’s limited involvement this season—only four appearances totaling 136 minutes—meant his departure was widely anticipated.

Read More: https://www.esnnews.com/post/al-hilal-transfer-bruno-fernandes-record-offer Los Blancos have already moved to reinforce their defense by securing the signing of Dean Huijsen from Bournemouth for €60 million.

The young defender will join a competitive pool alongside David Alaba, Antonio Rudiger, Raul Asencio, and Eder Militao. However, with both Alaba and Militao still recovering from long-term knee injuries, incoming coach Xabi Alonso faces the critical task of solidifying the team’s defensive stability.

Vallejo, who brings experience from several top-flight European leagues including La Liga, Bundesliga, and Premier League, is now expected to explore new opportunities. Several mid-tier clubs across Spain and Europe are reportedly interested in acquiring the services of the seasoned but underutilized center-back.