Thierry Henry appears to be on the brink of leaving Arsenal for Barcelona. Sources close to the Spanish club have declared a four-year deal has been signed for the France World Cup winner. Henry, the most influential player in Arsenal's history, admitted the shock departure of vice-chairman David Dein last season had been unsettling for everyone at the club.
It now looks as if the striker is set to call time on his eight-year stay in north London. Manager Arsene Wenger will have no doubt tried to convince his talisman to remain at the club, confident they could again compete for honours both at home and abroad.
A fee of 24 million euros (£16million) was reportedly agreed between the clubs, although Barca were later said to have insisted the deal has not yet been completed. Henry, who inherited the Arsenal captaincy from Patrick Vieira two years ago, has long been linked with a move to the Nou Camp - and speculation about a move grew after Arsenal were beaten by Barca in last year's Champions League final. The 29-year-old then penned a new four-year contract and revealed he planned to spend the rest of his career with the Gunners.