FC Barcelona
Barcelona captain Carles Puyol has announced he will leave the Spanish champions at the end of the season.
The 35-year-old Spain international had a contract with Barça until 2016 but has reached an agreement with the club to rescind the final two years of the deal.
Puyol, who has spent his entire career at Barcelona and made his first-team debut in 1999, made the announcement at a press conference on Tuesday afternoon.
Puyol press conference
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Barcelona's midfielder Carles Puyol poses prior to an announcement at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on March 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's midfielder Carles Puyol poses during an announcement at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on March 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's midfielder Carles Puyol poses prior to an announcement at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on March 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's midfielder Carles Puyol poses prior to an announcement at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on March 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(05 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona faces the media during a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(06 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona (C) arrives for a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. Carles Puyol will leave the FC Barcelona at the end of this season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(07 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona faces the media during a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(08 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona arrives for a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. Carles Puyol will leave the FC Barcelona at the end of this season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(09 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona looks on after speaking at a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. Carles Puyol will leave the FC Barcelona at the end of this season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(10 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona faces the media during a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(11 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona arrives for a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. Carles Puyol will leave the FC Barcelona at the end of this season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Carles Puyol Announces He Will Leave FC Barcelona At End Of Season(12 of13)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MARCH 04: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona arrives for a press conference to announce he will be leaving the Catalan club at the end of the season at the Sant Joan Despi Sport Complex on March 4, 2014 in Barcelona, Spain. Carles Puyol will leave the FC Barcelona at the end of this season. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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Barcelona's midfielder Carles Puyol (R) speaks during an announcement at the Sports Center FC Barcelona Joan Gamper in Sant Joan Despi, near Barcelona on March 4, 2014. AFP PHOTO/ LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
He said: "I want to announce that at the end of the season I will no longer be a Barcelona player.
"There are three months of the season left and I will not give up. I will help the team."
Puyol came through Barça's youth ranks and made his Primera Division debut in the 2-0 victory at Real Valladolid in October 1999.
He has made 593 appearances for the Catalan giants and is the second most capped player in the club's history behind current team-mate Xavi.
The lifelong culé had to wait six years to lift his first trophy at Camp Nou. In the end he got his hands on 18 of them...
Puyol's trophies
(01 of18)
BARCELONA, SPAIN: FC Barcelona's captain Carles Puyol (L) receives the title trophy from president of Spanish Federation Angel Maria Villar (R), during the celebration of the championship success against Villarreal in Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, 22 May 2005. AFP PHOTO LLUIS GENE. (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(02 of18)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 20: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona is seen with the trophy after winning the match between FC Barcelona and Real Betis during the Spain Supercup Final on August 20, 2005 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Luis Bagu/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(03 of18)
Barcelona, SPAIN: Barcelona captain Carles Puyol holds up the League trophy after beating Espanyol in a Spanish league football match at the Camp Nou Stadium in Barcelona, 06 May 2006. Barcelona have won their second consecutive league title and will be now looking to the final of the Champions League in Paris on 17 May. AFP PHOTO/CESAR RANGEL (Photo credit should read CESAR RANGEL/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(04 of18)
Saint-Denis, FRANCE: Barcelona's Spanish defender and team captain Carles Puyol holds the trophy after winning the UEFA Champion's League final football match Barcelona vs. Arsenal, 17 May 2006 at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, northern Paris. Barcelona won 2 to 1. AFP PHOTO PASCAL PAVANI (Photo credit should read PASCAL PAVANI/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(05 of18)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - AUGUST 20: Carles Puyol of Barcelona holds up the winners trophy after beating Espanyol 3-0 (1-0) in the Supercup at the Camp Nou stadium on August 20, 2006 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by Denis Doyle/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(06 of18)
VALENCIA, SPAIN - MAY 13: Carles Puyol of Barcelona raises the cup after the Copa del Rey final match between Barcelona and Athletic Bilbao at the Mestalla stadium on May 13, 2009 in Valencia, Spain. Barcelona won 4-1. (Photo by Manuel Queimadelos Alonso/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(07 of18)
Barcelona's Carles Puyol holds up the trophy for the Spanish league title 2009 after their Spanish League football match against Osasuna on May 23, 2009 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Barcelona became champions without even taking to the field as second-placed Real Madrid lost away at Villarreal on May 16. AFP PHOTO/LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(08 of18)
ROME - MAY 27: Carles Puyol of Barcelona lifts the trophy as he and his team mates celebrates winning the UEFA Champions League Final match between Barcelona and Manchester United at the Stadio Olimpico on May 27, 2009 in Rome, Italy. Barcelona won 2-0. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(09 of18)
Barcelona's Carles Puyol celebrates as he holds the trophy during their Spanish Super cup second leg football match Barcelona vs Athletic Bilbao at the New Camp Stadium in Barcelona on August 23, 2009. Barcelona beat Athletic Bilbao 3-0 for a 5-1 aggregate win. AFP PHOTO / JOSEP LAGO (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(10 of18)
MONACO - AUGUST 28: Carles Puyol captain of Barcelona lifts the trophy after victory in the UEFA Super Cup Final between FC Barcelona and Shakhtar Donetsk at The Stade Louis II Stadium on August 28, 2009 in Monaco, Monaco. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(11 of18)
Barcelona FC team captain Carles Puyol (L) holds the FIFA Club World Cup trophy upon arrival at Kuwait airport in Kuwait City on December 20, 2009. Barcelona will play a friendly football match against Kuwait's Al-Kazma on December 21. AFP PHOTO/YASSER AL-ZAYYAT (Photo credit should read YASSER AL-ZAYYAT/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(12 of18)
FC Barcelona's Carles Puyol holds up the La Liga 2009-2010 season Trophy before a friendly match against AC Milan at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Aug. 25, 2010. (AP Photo/David Ramos) (credit:AP)
(13 of18)
Barcelona's captain Carles Puyol celebrates after winning the Supercup trophy after, second leg, football match between Barcelona and Sevilla on August 21, 2010 at Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona. Barcelon won 4-0. AFP PHOTO/LLUIS GENE (Photo credit should read LLUIS GENE/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(14 of18)
Barcelona's captain Carles Puyol (2nd R) and Barcelona's midfielder Xavi Hernandez (2nd L) hold the league trophy as they celebrate their victory in the Spanish League after their football match against RC Deportivo de la Coruna at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on May 15, 2011. AFP PHOTO / JOSEP LAGO (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(15 of18)
Eric Abidal of Barcelona lifts the European Cup after the UEFA Champions League Final match between Barcelona and Manchester United at Wembley Stadium on May 28, 2011 in London, England. (Photo by John Peters/Man Utd via Getty Images) (credit:Getty)
(16 of18)
FC Barcelona defender Carles Puyol (2nd L) raises the trophy high as he and his teammates celebrate after their victory over Santos FC in the FIFA Club World Cup football final match in Yokohama on December 18, 2011. Barcelona won 4-0 to win the tournament. AFP PHOTO / TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA (Photo credit should read TOSHIFUMI KITAMURA/AFP/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
(17 of18)
Barcelona's captain Carles Puyol holds the trophys as he celebrates with supporters at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on May 26, 2012, a day after the team won the Spanish King's cup final football match against Athletic Bilbao. AFP PHOTO/ JOSEP LAGO (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/GettyImages) (credit:Getty Images)
(18 of18)
BARCELONA, SPAIN - MAY 19: Carles Puyol of FC Barcelona receives the trophy from the President of the Spanish Football Federation, Antonio Maria Villa, during the celebration after winning the Spanish League after the La Liga match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid CF at Camp Nou on May 19, 2013 in Barcelona, Spain. (Photo by David Ramos/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)