Barcelona confirm Dani Alves will leave club at season's end

The transfer window has only just closed, but Barcelona are already looking ahead to some player movement in 2015.

Of course, with the club now banned from signing any players for the next two transfer windows after breaching FIFA rules relating to the transfers of players under 18, any movement in the squad means players heading for the exit door.

Tuesday, sporting director Andoni Zubizarreta confirmed that one of the most instrumental members of the club over the past six seasons will be heading elsewhere next summer.

Alves, 31, had been linked with a move away from Camp Nou going back to last season, when his level of play began to slip somewhat. The recent signing of fellow Brazilian right-back Douglas – along with the presence of Martin Montoya – seems to have made the veteran expendable.

While the likes of Lionel Messi, Andres Iniesta and Xavi (rightly) get the attention for Barcelona's run of dominance that saw them catapult to the pinnacle of the European game, Alves has been there every step of the way.

Since joining the club from Sevilla in 2008, the attack-minded fullback has made 190 league appearances and chipped in with 14 goals, helping the Blaugrana capture four La Liga titles, two Copa del Rey crowns, a pair of Champions League titles and two FIFA Club World Cups.