Xavi Set to Sign New Contract That Will Keep Him at Barcelona Through 2016

Xavi is putting pen to paper on a new contract with Barcelona that will keep him at the Camp Nou until June 2016.

Blog totalBarca first reported the news on Twitter:

"

(Official) Xavi will sign a new contract extension on Monday that will keep him with Barça until 30 June 2016 #fcblive

— totalBarça (@totalBarca) January 23, 2013"

Barcelona confirmed the news on its official website. Xavi will officially sign on the dotted line Monday.

UPDATE: Monday, Jan. 28, at 10:35 a.m. ET by Brandon Galvin

Xavi Hernández officially signed his contract extension with Barcelona today, the team announced on it's website.

"

This Morining afternoon the Barça midfielder signs his contract extension that will keep him at the Club through June 30 of 2016  

"

---End of update---

The news shouldn't come as a shock to any world football fan. It was really just a matter of time. Nobody could ever imagine the midfielder donning a different shirt other than the scarlet and blue of Barcelona.

Dermot Corrigan of ESPNSoccernet reported back in November that Xavi was looking forward to signing a contract to keep him at Barca for the remainder of his football career.

This is even more positive momentum for the club. Barcelona lost just its first game of the season this past weekend. It sits eight points clear of Atletico Madrid in second and, more importantly, a whopping 17 points ahead of hated rivals Real Madrid.

To put the club's incredible run into more context, the 55 points Barca has recorded is out of a maximum of 60. Barcelona is on pace to break Madrid's record of points in a season, set last year with 100.

There was some questioning as to how Barca would perform with the departure of Pep Guardiola. Tito Vilanova has picked up right where his predecessor left off, in part to the fantastic play of Xavi and Andres Iniesta in midfield.

The two have formed one of the greatest partnerships in the history of football.

This extension will likely be the last contract Xavi signs with Barcelona. He's 32 right now, and the heir apparent in Cesc Fabregas is already lined up.