After making 725 appearances with Real Madrid, the team's captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas will be leaving the Spanish team for Portugal's FC Proto on a free transfer.

Despite having two years left on his contract with the Spanish team, "Real Madrid and FC Porto have agreed the transfer of Iker Casillas to the Portuguese club," said a statement from Real Madrid on Saturday.

Casillas' transfer follows a momentous career, which witnessed him win 19 trophies during his 16 seasons as a professional football player, earning him the nickname "Saint Iker" from fans.

"One of the best goalkeepers in the club is not just leaving, today the greatest goalkeeper in the history of the club and in the history of Spanish football is moving on to a new stage in his footballing career," the statement said.

The 34-year-old Casillas, who joined Real Madrid's youth academy in 1990 at the age of nine, made the front pages in 2010 after leading Spain to their first World Cup victory in a 1-0 win over the Netherlands in South Africa.

"For Real Madrid today is a day, above all, of thanks and recognition...This goodbye evokes thousands of sensations and memories charged with hope, anticipation, sacrifice, strength and unique triumph," the statement added.

The transfer comes amid reports that Real Madrid is trying to recruit Manchester United's Spanish goalkeeper, 24-year-old David de Gea.

Casillas made his debut with Real Madrid in 1999 and has clinched a World Cup victory, two European Championships, three Champions League trophies and five Spanish titles throughout his career. He has been named the world's best goalkeeper by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) fives times.

"Thank you Iker, for everything you have done. Thank you for being a symbol of the best in our history. You are going but we will never forget that you'll always belong to the heart of Real Madrid," the statement concluded.

ls/ (AFP, Reuters, dpa)