Inter Miami full-back Jordi Alba has announced he will retire from professional football at the end of the current season, bringing to a close a decorated career that included long spells at FC Barcelona and Valencia.
Alba made the revelation on social media on Tuesday, saying, ‘The time has come to close a truly meaningful chapter in my life. I’ve decided to bring my professional football career to an end at the conclusion of this season.
‘I do so with complete conviction, with peace and with happiness because I feel I’ve walked this path with every ounce of passion I had.
‘And now it’s the right moment to open a new chapter and close the previous one with the best possible feeling’.
The 35-year-old left-back joined Inter Miami in July 2023, following former Barcelona team-mates Lionel Messi and Sergio Busquets.
Earlier Busquets also announced retirement last week.
Alba’s decision comes despite having signed a contract extension with Miami through 2027.
A product of Valencia’s youth system, Alba played more than 700 professional club matches across spells with Valencia CF, Gimnàstic de Tarragona, and, most notably, FC Barcelona.
With Valencia and Barcelona, he totaled 37 goals and 107 assists in 605 appearances in all competitions.
Internationally, Alba scored 10 goals in 93 appearances for Spain and was part of the national teams that won Euro 2012 and the 2023 UEFA Nations League.
At Barcelona he won the 2015 UEFA Champions League and collected six La Liga titles.
He has contributed 14 goals and 28 assists in 95 appearances for Inter Miami since he moved to MLS. His achievement in the league include winning Leagues Cup title in 2023 and the Supporters’ Shield in 2024.
