Vazquez joins Leverkusen after Real Madrid exit

Lucas Vazquez has joined Bayer Leverkusen on a free transfer after his contract at Real Madrid expired in the summer.

The 34-year-old, who won the Champions League five times and four La Liga titles with Los Blancos, has signed a two-year deal with Erik ten Hag's side.

Vazquez said Xabi Alonso, the former Leverkusen manager now in charge of Real Madrid, and ex-team-mate Dani Carvajal, who also spent the 2012-13 season with the Bundesliga club, helped convince him to make the move.

"My discussions with the management confirmed what I've been told - the club are absolutely focused on winning, are hungry and they are aiming for the biggest targets," he said in a statement.

"That mindset coincides with my ideas and I'm looking forward to striving for more success at Leverkusen."

After coming through Real Madrid's academy and handed a first-team debut in 2015, Vazquez made 402 appearances and won 20 trophies at Real, including the Club World Cup three times.

A versatile player and capped nine times by Spain, he was used on the wing and at right-back.

Vazquez played 32 Spanish top-flight matches last season, but only made two substitute appearances at the summer Fifa Club World Cup following the arrival of Trent Alexander-Arnold from Liverpool.

Leverkusen, meanwhile, were looking for a full-back after Jeremie Frimpong's move to the Premier League champions in May.

The German club, who won the domestic league and cup Double two seasons ago, also sold Florian Wirtz to Liverpool and Granit Xhaka to Sunderland in the summer, while defender Jonathan Tah joined rivals Bayern Munich on a free transfer.