Jordi Alba Announces Retirement From Football After This Season With Inter Miami

‎Former Spain and Barcelona defender, Jordi Alba has announced he will retire from football at the end of the current Major League Soccer season.

‎Alba, who currently plays for Inter Miami, began his youth career at Barcelona before being released for his small stature.

‎He later returned to the Catalan club in 2012 from Valencia for €14 million and went on to spend 11 successful seasons there.

‎He joined Inter Miami in 2023, linking up with former teammates Lionel Messi, Sergio Busquets, and Luis Suarez, while another former Barca colleague, Javier Mascherano, is the current head coach.

‎”The time has come to close a truly meaningful chapter in my life,” Alba said in a video posted on Instagram.

‎”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.”

‎The 36-year-old retired from international football in 2023 after making 93 appearances for Spain and was part of the Euro 2012 winning team where he scored in the 4-0 victory over Italy in the final.

‎Alba won six La Liga titles with Barcelona, along with the Champions League and the Club World Cup, plus five Copa del Rey trophies. In the United States, he won the Leagues Cup and the Supporters’ Shield, and he will retire in November after the MLS playoffs.

‎Who will replace him at Inter Miami? 

‎Major League Soccer side Inter Miami is in advanced negotiations to sign Spanish left-back Sergio Reguilon on a free transfer. Reguilon has been without a club since leaving Tottenham Hotspur at the end of his contract in July.

‎Miami is now close to reaching an agreement to bring the 27-year-old defender to the United States.

‎However, with the MLS roster freeze deadline having passed on September 12, he will only be eligible to play starting from the 2026 season unless an exemption is granted.