diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeField.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeField.java
index 2045dba..8e443f82 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeField.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeField.java
@@ -504,9 +504,9 @@
           ATTENTION_SET_FULL_FIELD.storedOnly(ChangeQueryBuilder.FIELD_ATTENTION_SET_FULL);
 
   /** The user assigned to the change. */
+  // The getter always returns NO_ASSIGNEE, since assignee field is deprecated.
   public static final IndexedField<ChangeData, Integer> ASSIGNEE_FIELD =
-      IndexedField.<ChangeData>integerBuilder("Assignee")
-          .build(changeGetter(c -> c.getAssignee() != null ? c.getAssignee().get() : NO_ASSIGNEE));
+      IndexedField.<ChangeData>integerBuilder("Assignee").build(changeGetter(c -> NO_ASSIGNEE));
 
   public static final IndexedField<ChangeData, Integer>.SearchSpec ASSIGNEE_SPEC =
       ASSIGNEE_FIELD.integer(ChangeQueryBuilder.FIELD_ASSIGNEE);
diff --git a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeSchemaDefinitions.java b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeSchemaDefinitions.java
index 895c4d8..6ddf7a3 100644
--- a/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeSchemaDefinitions.java
+++ b/java/com/google/gerrit/server/index/change/ChangeSchemaDefinitions.java
@@ -232,12 +232,21 @@
           .build();
 
   /** Add prefixsubject field. */
+  @Deprecated
   static final Schema<ChangeData> V81 =
       new Schema.Builder<ChangeData>()
           .add(V80)
           .addSearchSpecs(ChangeField.PREFIX_SUBJECT_SPEC)
           .build();
 
+  /** Remove assignee field. */
+  static final Schema<ChangeData> V82 =
+      new Schema.Builder<ChangeData>()
+          .add(V81)
+          .remove(ChangeField.ASSIGNEE_SPEC)
+          .remove(ChangeField.ASSIGNEE_FIELD)
+          .build();
+
   /**
    * Name of the change index to be used when contacting index backends or loading configurations.
    */