ONE TOUCH SUMMARY
- David Alaba officially signed for Serie A side Udinese as a free agent on Thursday.
- The 34-year-old defender brings 11 Real Madrid trophies and 10 Bundesliga titles to the club.
- Udinese currently sit 13th in Serie A after losing their last three league matches.
ONE TOUCH INSIGHT
David Alaba’s move to Udinese is less about revival and more about relevance. At 34, coming off an ACL tear and a year out, he isn’t signing to pad a resume — he’s betting he can still influence games at Serie A’s tempo. Udinese aren’t buying a legend; they’re gambling on a competitor who insists he still has something to prove.
His words leave no doubt: he wants responsibility, not reverence. Kosta Runjaić has reportedly earmarked him as a vocal presence in the dressing room and a tactical option at centre-back or left-back — roles where his reading of the game could still offset lost pace. For a side 13th and winless in three, that leadership might matter more than marginal gains in recovery speed.
The test isn’t whether he can play — it’s whether he can lift a squad that lacks direction. Udinese’s next match against Empoli on September 28 will show if Alaba starts and how quickly he’s integrated into the back line. His impact will be measured in organisation, not just appearances.
WHY IT MATTERS
This signing signals Udinese's ambition to compete at the highest level despite their recent poor form. It demonstrates a strategy of leveraging elite experience to stabilize a struggling squad and elevate younger players.
TACTICAL FIT
Coach Kosta Runjaić intends for Alaba to bring experience and responsibility to the dressing room. He aims to help younger players while continuing to perform at the highest level in Serie A.
THE DEBATE
Can veteran leadership reverse Udinese's recent losing streak effectively?
Multiple Authors
Sep 24, 2026, 08:17 AM ET
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Former Real Madrid defender David Alaba officially signed for Serie A side Udinese on Thursday.
The 34-year-old has been a free agent since his contract with Real Madrid expired at the end of last season.
He spent five years with the LaLiga giants, winning 11 trophies including two Champions Leagues, two league titles and two FIFA Club World Cups.
"Signing David Alaba is a source of immense satisfaction for the entire club," GM Franco Collavinosaid in a news release. "We are welcoming an established champion, a leader and an exemplary professional. His arrival shows Udinese's determination to grow and compete at the highest level as well as build an increasingly ambitious squad."
David Alaba joined Udinese on Thursday.Severin Aichbauer/SEPA.Media /Getty Images
The defender suffered a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury in 2023 which required surgery and his minutes became limited.
Alaba had also previously spent 13 years with German club Bayern Munich, where he won 10 Bundesliga titles and two Champions Leagues.
"I've had many experiences and won a lot over the course of my career, but one thing hasn't changed, I still want to win," Alaba said in the Serie A club's news release. "I still want to compete. And I still want to achieve something special. That is the mindset I'm bringing to Udinese.
"The coach [Kosta Runjaić] made it very clear what role he has in mind for me and what he wants us to achieve together. Naturally, I want to bring my experience to the dressing room, take on responsibility, and help out whenever possible, especially with the younger players.
"I'm not coming here just to be the veteran of the squad, and I certainly didn't come here to wind down my career. I'm still too ambitious for that, and I still strongly believe in what I can do on the pitch.
"I want to keep pushing, perform at the highest level in Serie A week in and week out, and achieve something meaningful. I'm really excited about this challenge, and I still have a lot to prove to myself."
Alaba has also made 117 appearances for his country, Austria, and captained the side at the World Cup this summer.
Udinese are currently 13th in the Serie A table with four points after five games, and have lost their last three.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
AI-assisted · generated from ESPN FC reporting, not editor reviewed
