Barcelona have announced Carles Puyol is set to ink a new contract. The Barca captain, whose current deal was set to expire next summer, will sign the three-year extension in the next few days.

Puyol came through the ranks at the Catalan giants and has been a mainstay of the back four since making his debut in 1999.

A club statement, on fcbarcelona.cat, said: "FC Barcelona and Carles Puyol have reached an agreement in principle to renew the captain's contract until 2013.

"Now the new conditions will be drawn up and will be signed in the next few days.

"The coach Pep Guardiola and the footballer himself made the news known to the rest of his team-mates just before the start of training this morning.

"The Barca squad, united in a circle, welcomed it with a resounding ovation and congratulated the captain for the agreement in principle."