Eric Abidal has put an end to the speculation regarding his future by signing a new one-year contract at Barcelona.

After months of negotiations, the Catalan giants announced that the Frenchman would be staying for another year, with an option to extend the deal over the next two years.

There has been serious interest in the 32-year-old from a number of top European clubs. The player would have been able to leave on a free transfer had he not signed the new deal.

However, Abidal – who successfully underwent surgery on a tumour on his liver last year – has always maintained that he wanted to stay at the Nou Camp.

The left-back joined Barcelona from Lyon in 2007.