Lucas Vázquez set to join Bayer Leverkusen after leaving Real Madrid

 

Lucas Vázquez is closing in on a move to Bayer Leverkusen after leaving Real Madrid as a free agent this summer. Reports from Sky Sport and AS confirm that the Spanish full-back has already passed a medical and will travel to Germany to sign a two-year contract. The 34-year-old is expected to be unveiled by the Bundesliga champions this week and could make his debut on August 30 against Werder Bremen.

Vázquez departs Real Madrid after a remarkable 18-year association with the club, having first joined its youth academy in 2007. He was promoted to the first team in 2015 after a loan spell at Espanyol and went on to make 402 appearances in all competitions. While not always a guaranteed starter, his versatility and reliability made him a valued member of the squad during some of the club’s greatest triumphs.

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During his time in Madrid, Vázquez collected 23 trophies, including five Champions League titles, four La Liga championships, and three Club World Cups. His loyalty and key performances in decisive matches, particularly during Zinedine Zidane’s Champions League treble-winning era, earned him legendary status among supporters at the Santiago Bernabéu.

The move to Bayer Leverkusen marks a fresh challenge for Vázquez, who had drawn interest from several clubs across Europe and the Middle East after leaving Real Madrid. Speculation linked him with a return to Espanyol, where he played on loan in 2014-15, while clubs in La Liga, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey also expressed interest. Reports even suggested José Mourinho considered him for his new Fenerbahçe project, while Juventus monitored his situation.

Despite those options, Vázquez has chosen to join Ten Haag’s Bayer Leverkusen, who secured their first Bundesliga title last season. His arrival will add depth and experience to a squad preparing to defend the league crown and compete strongly in Europe. Alonso, a former Real Madrid teammate, is said to have played a role in convincing Vázquez to move to Germany.

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Vázquez’s signing further strengthens Leverkusen’s options on the right flank, where he can operate both as a right-back and winger. His winning mentality and pedigree from nearly two decades at Madrid could prove valuable in guiding Leverkusen’s young squad. The Spaniard is set to fly to Germany to finalise the deal and could feature before the end of August as Die Werkself begin their title defence.