Posted at 8:25 a.m., Saturday, June 23, 2007
Soccer: Barcelona agrees to pay $32 million for Henry
Associated Press
MADRID, Spain — A physical and terms of a four-year contract are all that remain to complete the transfer of Arsenal striker Thierry Henry to FC Barcelona, which agreed today to pay Arsenal $32 million for the 29-year-old Frenchman.
"I still must pass a medical on Monday but yes, I have chosen Barcelona," Henry said in the French sports daily L'Equipe today. "I will sign there for the next four seasons."
Arsenal confirmed on its Web site today that it had reached an agreement to send Henry to the Catalan club. Thierry is expected to be presented by his new team on Monday.
"I have chosen Barcelona for the football they play, for their history and their stadium," Henry said, adding that Arsenal's failure to extend coach Arsene Wenger's contract beyond 2008 "was another very important factor" in his decision to leave.
Henry has been with Arsenal since 1999, scoring a club-record 226 goals in 364 appearances. He helped the Gunners win two English Premier League titles and three Football Association Cups.
