Central midfielder Xavi Hernandez will leave Barcelona this summer after 17 years at the Catalan club to join Qatari side Al Sadd in a three-year deal.

After winning eight La Liga titles, two Copa Del Rey trophies, six Supercopas de España, three UEFA Champions Leagues, two UEFA Super Cups, and two FIFA Club World Cups, the FIFA World Cup and two time European Championship winner leaves an huge space as he was a part of the legendary midfield on a Barcelona that was regarded as one of the best ever during the late part of the 2000s and beginning of the 2010s, filling a familar partnership with Andres Iniesta.

He can add two more trophies at the newly crowned La Liga champions, with Barcelona in the Copa del Rey and UEFA Champions League finals, to win his second and the club's ever treble.

''It's a definitive decision, it's not an easy one, it's the right moment to go, '' the Barcelona's appearance record holder, told reporters. "I still feel useful here but a change of scene is necessary, my head tells me so but not my heart. I want to keep playing. I know I can still perform, although it'll be in a lower level league.''

"We have a unique opportunity to make history," said Xavi. "I think the Qatar project is nice, and it's ideal for me. In the future I'd like to come back to Barca. I had a very good offer to renew with Barca, but I didn't even tell my mother. I want to keep playing. I know I can still perform, although it'll be in a lower-level league. Barca will continue to be great without me. I'm convinced."

According to his agent, Ivan Corretja, Xavi would also become an ambassador for the 2022 FIFA World Cup to be held in Qatar, and look to start his coaching qualifications to return back to the Blaugrana.

Xavi came through La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy, at the age of 11. He made his first-team debut against RCD Mallorca on August the 18th, 1998 at the age of 18. Since then he has played over 700 matches, scored over 80 goals and created more than 180 assists for over 50 players. Xavi is the first player in FC Barcelona's history to play 150 international matches for his national team on all levels and is considered the most decorated and successful players in Spanish football history. Highly regarded for his humble persona and team ethos, Xavi is viewed as being the quintessential embodiment of the tiki-taka passing style of play, and is considered to be one of the greatest central midfielders of his generation and even all-time.