Jordi Alba to retire from football at the end of 2025

Jordi Alba has announced that he will retire at the end of the 2025 Major League Soccer (MLS) season.

The Spanish footballer will hang up his boots at the end of the MLS Cup Play-offs with Inter Miami, which take place across the USA and Canada between 22 October and 6 December.

Alba, 36, who competed at the Olympic Games London 2012, won the UEFA European Championship with Spain in 2012, bowing out with the UEFA Nations League title in 2023 in his 93rd and final international appearance.

In a statement released by Inter Miami, he said, “This has been a thoughtful decision I’ve considered for a long time. I feel it’s the right moment to begin a new personal chapter and fully enjoy time with my family after so many demanding years in professional football.

“I’m very happy with my time at Inter Miami and truly grateful for the support of the fans and for having been part of the team’s successes, sharing special moments in the Club’s growth. Now my goal is to finish the season in the best possible way, giving my all in the playoffs.”

The left-back spent the majority of his career with hometown team FC Barcelona, where he won La Liga six times as well as the UEFA Champions League in 2015. Alba tallied up 17 major honours during his time at the Catalan club.

After spending his entire career in his native Spain, Alba left for Inter Miami in 2023 to join forces with former Barça teammate and fellow Olympian, Lionel Messi. Together, they helped ‘the Herons’ to their first major honour, the Leagues Cup in 2023, followed by the Supporters’ Shield the next year.

Alba follows Inter Miami compatriot Sergio Busquets in retiring from the game at the end of the 2025 MLS season, a fellow FC Barcelona legend who helped Spain to the FIFA men’s World Cup in 2010.

Inter Miami conclude the regular season away to Nashville on 19 October, having already secured their play-offs spot for the MLS finale.

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