( CNN ) -- It 's a club that has built its reputation on developing some of the world 's best players , but leading European club Barcelona has been hit by a transfer ban imposed by FIFA after breaking the world governing body 's rules relating to the `` international transfer of minors . '' Barca 's youth players are drawn not just from Catalonia and Spain , but also from around the globe and trying to recruit the world 's best is a competitive business -- Argentine Lionel Messi joined Barca at the age of 11 . If you get the development of young players right it can be a hugely lucrative business . In June Barcelona said of the 25 players in its first team , 17 came its youth academy -- the highest percentage of recent years . Unless it manages to successfully appeal the FIFA ban , Barca will be prevented from signing players -- both youth and senior players -- in the next two transfer windows . That could have severe consequences for the Spanish champions . Transfer windows are important for all clubs as they allow them to refresh their squads . That 's important not just for maintaining on-field competitiveness but also for marketing purposes , such as selling shirts . Last summer , for example , Barca invested nearly $ 120 million on just one player -- Brazilian international Neymar . Later Wednesday on its website , Barcelona said it would appeal the ruling , citing 14 reasons , and take the case to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if necessary . `` FCB will also demand the relevant interim measures needed to preserve the Club 's rights , amongst which are those allowing it to sign players in transfer windows , '' it said in a statement . The FIFA ruling comes after an investigation found the Spanish champions had broken regulations regarding the transfer of young players from outside Spain . FIFA 's investigation focused on several players aged under 18 who were registered and played for the club between 2009 and 2013 . Under FIFA laws , clubs are not allowed to sign international players under the age of 18 unless the player is moving within the European Union , is aged between 16 and 18 and moving with their parents or the club and the player both live within 50 kilometers of a shared national border . `` The Disciplinary Committee regarded the infringements as serious and decided to sanction the club with a transfer ban at both national and international level for two complete and consecutive transfer periods , together with a fine of CHF 450,000 ( $ 508,000 ) , '' read a FIFA statement . `` Additionally , the club was granted a period of 90 days in which to regularize the situation of all minor players concerned . `` The investigations concerned several minor players who were registered and participated in competitions with the club over various periods between 2009 and 2013 . '' The Spanish Football Federation has also been hit with a CHF 500,000 ( $ 565,000 ) fine by FIFA . The Spanish Federation was not immediately available for comment . The ban on Barcelona means the club will be unable to buy players during the `` summer '' transfer window which runs between June and August , and the January 2015 window . `` In this respect , the Disciplinary Committee emphasized that the protection of minors in the context of international transfers is an important social and legal issue that concerns all stakeholders in football , '' continued the statement . `` The Disciplinary Committee underlined that FIFA takes the protection of minors in football very seriously . '' It is unclear whether the ban will affect transfers Barca have in the pipeline . German goalkeeper Andre Ter Stegen has reportedly been linked with a move to Barca from Borussia Monchengladbach this summer , while highly-rated 17-year-old Alen Halilovic is set to arrive at the Camp Nou from Dinamo Zagreb . This is not the first negative story that has threatened to derail Barca 's season . President Sandro Rosell resigned in January after a judge ordered a hearing to investigate the misappropriation of funds during the signing of Brazil star Neymar in 2013 . Neymar was on the scoresheet as Barca drew 1-1 with Atletico Madrid in Tuesday 's European Champions League quarterfinal first leg . Pictures : 34 amazing sport photos .
Barcelona has been banned from signing players for the next two transfer windows . FIFA has punished Barca for breaking rules relating to the ` ` international transfer of minors '' Barca had been found to have broken the rules with up to 10 young players . Football 's global governing body has also fined the Spanish Football Federation .