Arsenal confirm Henry exit

Barcelona expect to agree personal terms with Thierry Henry in the "next few hours" after a fee of €24 million (£16m) was hammered out between the Catalan giants and Arsenal earlier in the week.

The Gunners this morning confirmed the that their talismanic striker will be playing his football for Barcelona next season, while the player himself has claimed, in an open letter to fans, that he could not commit to the Gunners if manager Arsene Wenger's future was undecided.

A statement on the Gunners' official website read this morning: "Arsenal Football Club can confirm that it has reached an agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of Thierry Henry.

"The deal is subject to a medical and the completion of formalities."

Henry has revealed he decided to quit the Gunners as he could not face life at the club without David Dein and Wenger, sparking further concern for Arsenal fans that the coach may also be on his way out of the club.

Former vice-chairman Dein has already left the club and Wenger has not committed himself to be at Emirates Stadium beyond his current contact which finishes at the end of the forthcoming season.

In a letter published in The Sun,the France striker said: "Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

"Unfortunately and understandably he has said that at this moment he will not commit to the club past the expiration of his current deal which finishes at the end of the coming season.

"I respect his decision and his honesty but I will be 31 at the end of next season and I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein.

"This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything and I will represent myself in this transaction. I feel it is something I just had to do."

Henry has also revealed the reasoning behind his decision to move to the Nou Camp on a contract said to be for four years.

"Barcelona are a wonderful club steeped in tradition and play beautiful football. I'm sure I will be very happy there," said the World Cup winner. "But I will miss the Arsenal fans dearly, they have supported me through thick and thin.

"They will always be in my heart, as will all the fans who make the game here so special. I will always have a special bond with Arsenal Football Club."

Soriano revealed it was "the wish of all parties" for an agreement to be reached for the transfer of Henry, who could be presented as a Barca player on Monday.

The Barcelona vice-president admits recent big-money transfers in Europe dictated how much it would cost his club to take Henry - who turns 30 in August - to Catalonia.

"There is a certain inflation in the transfer fees with respect to last year," Soriano told Catalan radio station RAC1. "We can check it (the Henry deal) with the signing of Ribery for Bayern (£17m) and those of Nani and Anderson, who are 18, for Manchester United (£34m).

"There are players who last year cost €10 million (£6.7million) and now they cost €15 million (£10.1million)."