Barcelona have sacked director of football Andoni Zubizarreta, the Primera Division club said.

The former Spain and Barca goalkeeper has been in the post since the summer of 2010, when he replaced fellow Basque Txiki Begiristain.

The club said: “The Barcelona president Josep Maria Bartomeu has decided to terminate as of today the contract of the club’s director of football, Andoni Zubizarreta.”

The 53-year-old Zubizarreta had a contract until 2016.

Bartomeu, who replaced Sandro Rosell as president last January, is expected to explain the reasons behind his decision at a press conference tomorrow.

The move comes a week after Barcelona saw their appeal against a two-window transfer ban imposed by FIFA dismissed by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

The Catalan outfit turned to CAS in August after FIFA rejected their appeal to overturn the punishment, which was handed down by world football’s governing body in April due to concerns over the ‘‘international transfer of minors’’.

The ruling by CAS means they will be unable to sign any new players in 2015.

Barca have yet to name a replacement for Zubizarreta, but former captain Carles Puyol and highly-rated Sevilla sporting director Monchi have both been linked with the position.

However, Puyol, who has been working under Zubizarreta since September, has ruled himself out of the job.

The 36-year-old said: “I want to announce that I have decided to finalise my working relationship with FC Barcelona.

“These three and a half months have given me the opportunity to see another side of the club. I’ve learned a lot, I’m very grateful and, now, I would like to experience other things from a different perspective and from other places.”