Antoine Griezmann has the told Atletico Madrid he will not return to the club next season.
The France striker signed a five-year deal with Atletico last season and had a €104m release clause inserted into his contract.
Griezmann, 28, said he had told Atletico coach Diego Simeone and chief executive Miguel Angel Gil Marin of his decision and addressed the supporters in the video message.
He said in a video posted on the club’s Twitter account: “It has been five incredible years, thank you very much for everything, I carry you in my heart”.
“I wanted to tell the fans who have always given me a lot of love that I have taken the decision to leave, to see other things, to have other challenges,” he said.
The Los Rojiblancos captain rejected a move to Barcelona last summer but after the club announced he informed them he will be moving on on their Twitter account.
Griezmann, who joined Atletico from Real Sociedad for a reported €30m in 2014, has been the team’s top scorer in each of the five seasons he has been at the club.
He was Atletico’s inspirational figure when they won the 2018 Europa League, scoring twice in a 3-0 win over Olympique Marseilles in the final, before helping them win the UEFA Super Cup.
Griezmann also lifted the Spanish Super Cup in 2014.
He played in the 2016 Champions League final, which Atletico lost on penalties to Real Madrid, and was named as the third best player in the world at that year’s FIFA Ballon d’Or awards.
Griezmann is the latest high profile player to announce that he is leaving Atletico at the end of the season.
France defender Lucas Hernandez agreed to join Bayern Munich when they paid his €80m release clause and long-serving captain Diego Godin’s contract is coming to an end.
“Griezmann is our captain and he is important for us, so I am not worried at all,” Atleti boss Simeone told Fox Sports programme 90 Minutos, as cited by Marca.
“I am not in his body so I cannot tell you what he is thinking, but he has two years left on his contract and he is continuing to grow and improve here.”