Arsenal transfer news: Sami Khedira puts Gunners and Chelsea on alert as he announces he is leaving Real Madrid on a free transfer

28-year-old Khedira will be one of the most sought-after free agents in the summer as his deal with Real expires

Real Madrid midfielder Sami Khedira (Getty Images)

Sami Khedira has confirmed that he will leave Real Madrid at the end of the season after seeing his contract run down towards its expiry date at the end of the season.

Khedira has already admitted his “hurt” this week at being dropped from the side by manager Carlo Ancelotti this season, and the belief was that he would leave the club on a free transfer come the summer – something that the Germany World Cup winner has now confirmed.

The 28-year-old was a key part of the Germany team that triumphed in Brazil last summer, but it was at that time that rumours of a move to Arsenal began to surface with just a year remaining on his contract. Khedira has also been linked with a move back to Germany with Schalke believed to be interested, while a move to Italy looks to be on the cards with Italian champions Juventus the heavy favourites to sign him.

While Arsenal did appear to need a player of the calibre of Khedira in their midfield, the emergence of Francis Coquelin looks to have persuaded manager Arsene Wenger to overlook Khedira this summer.

Chelsea are also said to be in the running, although whether Khedira would see regular football at Stamford Bridge with Nemanja Matic anc Cesc Fabregas in the side would be far from certain.

Taking to his Instagram account, Khedira admitted that he was at the club’s Valdedebas training ground for the final time and confirmed he will leave the club at the end of the season.

Alongside a picture of him sitting in his number six berth in the changing room, Khedira said: “Valdedebas for the last time. I am moving on but I will surely miss my club Real, all of its staff and my unbelievable teammates! Guys, it was one heck of a ride!!! #thankyou #halamadrid.”

Khedira has enjoyed huge success with Real since arriving in 2010 after leaving his hometown club Stuttgart in a deal though to be worth 14m euros at the time. On top of the Champions League success last season, which saw Real claim the famous Decima, Khedira was also part of the side that under Jose Mourinho won the La Liga in 2011/12.

Sami Khedira will say goodbye to Real this weekend (Getty Images)

Khedira also won the Copa del Rey in 2010/11 and 2013/14 while Real also secured the Fifa Club World Cup last summer with the help of Khedira, although by this time he was on the fringe of the team due to the arrival of James Rodriguez and Ancelotti’s preference to play Luka Modric and summer signing Toni Kroos.