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Monday, 25 June 2007, 16:03 GMT 17:03 UK

Henry completes move to Barcelona

Thierry Henry French striker Thierry Henry has completed his £16.1m move from Arsenal to Spanish club Barcelona.

Henry, 29, passed a medical on Monday before being unveiled at the Nou Camp after signing a four-year deal with the Catalan outfit.

"I'm really pleased to be here," said Henry after signing. "It has been a long chase but I am finally here.

"I am happy to be here and can't wait to show what I can do too. Hopefully, I can be a great asset for the team."

Henry added: "I haven't set any targets or objectives. It has to be a club target.

"Barcelona is always a club that wants to win everything. I am going to try my hardest to help as much as I can.

"It has to be a team effort right from the start."

606: DEBATE

Henry claimed two Premiership titles and three FA Cups with Arsenal but he failed to pick up a Champions League winners' medal during his illustrious spell with the Gunners.

Henry helped Arsenal to the final of the competition in 2006 where they lost to his new employers and, after AC Milan won the competition last season, Henry has set his sights on helping them regain the European crown.

"I have to live and breathe Barcelona," said the French striker. "It's a dream for everyone to win the Champions League and I'm sure it'll be the dream of Barcelona to win it again next season.

"It's the only thing I didn't win at Arsenal but the most important thing is that Barcelona is successful and they win silverware."

Henry resisted a move to Barcelona after the 2006 Champions League final, opting to sign a new four-year contract with Arsenal.

But the exit of David Dein as Arsenal vice-chairman and the uncertainty over manager Arsene Wenger, whose contract runs out at the end of next season, contributed to a change of heart.

"It was Thierry's decision to leave Arsenal but he goes with my blessing"
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger

Barcelona president Joan Laporta admitted Henry is a player the club have coveted for a long time.

"Thierry Henry is a player we've been after for many years and now he's here," said Laporta.

"Johan Cruyff wanted to sign Thierry Henry for Barcelona when he was a young player.

"When I was elected president in 2003 I wanted to sign him, we also wanted to sign him last year and today it is a great pleasure to see him here."

"He is one of the best players in the world and given his quality, experience and commitment he comes to Barcelona at the perfect time."

Wenger has played a major part in masterminding Henry's rise to prominence and Arsenal's manager paid tribute to the striker.

"Thierry has been tremendous for us since he arrived in 1999," Wenger told the Arsenal website.

"He has excelled both as part of a team and individually. In short, he has become an Arsenal legend.

"My relationship with him will always remain whatever happens"
Henry on Wenger

"Personally, I would like to thank Thierry for the huge contribution he has made to the club's success over the past eight years.

"To his great credit, he has mixed skill and style together with an appetite for winning.

"This wonderful combination was integral to our historical 49 games unbeaten run and all the honours he won at Arsenal, together with Thierry becoming the club's record goal scorer - an achievement which in my view is unlikely to be surpassed.

"It was Thierry's decision to leave Arsenal but he goes with my blessing. On behalf of everyone at the club, we wish him the very best for the future."

Henry insists his departure from Arsenal will not have a detremental impact on their relationship.

"The relationship I had with Arsene was out of this world - you can't imagine," said Henry.

"I was talking to him about private stuff, about anything."



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Related to this story:

Comment: Barca fulfil Henry dreams (26 Jun 07 |  Football )
Henry passes medical at Barcelona (25 Jun 07 |  Europe )
Emotional Henry salutes Gunners (23 Jun 07 |  Europe )
Henry's Arsenal career in photos (23 Jun 07 |  Football )
Comment: Hope after Henry (23 Jun 07 |  Football )
Comment: Life without Thierry (22 Jun 07 |  Football )
Vieira fears Henry's Arsenal exit (20 Jun 07 |  Arsenal )
Henry agent dismisses Barca claim (11 Jun 07 |  Arsenal )
Henry casts fresh doubt on future (08 Jun 07 |  Arsenal )
AC Milan admit interest in Henry (04 Jun 07 |  Europe )
Henry stays on Barca wanted list (22 Feb 06 |  Arsenal )
Barca leave door open for Henry (03 Jun 07 |  Europe )
Vice-chairman Dein leaves Arsenal (18 Apr 07 |  Arsenal )

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