Barcelona have confirmed captain Carles Puyol has signed a three-year extension to his current contract, keeping him at the Nou Camp until 2013.

The club announced last week they had reached an agreement in principle with Puyol, whose current deal was set to expire next summer.

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 www.fcbarcelona.cat, read: "A week after the announcement of Carles Puyol's renewal, the Barca captain signed his new contract.

"It was 14:23hrs when the Catalan defender signed, in the club offices, the contract which ties him to FC Barcelona until 2013.

"The release clause of this new contract has been fixed at 10million euros."

Puyol has won 10 trophies with Barca including two Champions Leagues, three league titles and one Copa del Rey, while he also helped Spain to win Euro 2008.

The 31-year-old has made over 450 appearances for his club, putting him in fourth place in the all-time appearance charts, and is delighted to have penned a new deal.

"I am very happy for the confidence the club, the coach and my team-mates have put in me," Puyol told Barca TV.

"The fans also played a key part in my decision to stay as they constantly show me their support, as much in the good moments as in the bad.

"I know that it is not like here anywhere else."
Barca have been working hard to tie their treble winners to long-term deals.

They have already improved the contracts of Lionel Messi, Victor Valdes and Xavi while talks are ongoing with Andres Iniesta, Rafael Marquez and coach Pep Guardiola.