Thierry Henry divorces in London court

LONDON: French football star Thierry Henry divorced his wife of four years Claire Merry at London's High Court on Monday.

British reports speculated the big-earning striker, who plays for Spanish giants Barcelona, could face the biggest ever divorce payment by a footballer.

Merry is expected to be entitled to a large chunk of his wealth, estimated at around $50 million.

The couple shared a plush six-bedroomed house in the well-to-do north London suburb of Hampstead, which Henry bought for 5.95 million pounds in 2002.

Henry, 30, and Merry, 27, a British model and the mother of their two-year-old daughter Tea, met when they worked on car television advertisements.

The 'quickie' divorce was granted by a judge at the Principal Registry of the High Court's Family Division, who granted the couple a decree nisi.

'The Sun' daily said it will be rubber-stamped in a decree absolute in six weeks' time.

Henry announced he was splitting from Merry in June, shortly before his transfer from London's English Premier League side Arsenal to Barcelona.

A statement in July from law firm Mishcon de Reya on behalf of Henry read "Thierry is extremely saddened by the breakdown of his marriage.

"He is anxious to move on with his life and maintain the best possible relationship he can with Claire for the benefit of their daughter Tea, whom he loves very much."

"Thierry would like to stress that contrary to reports, his move to Barcelona was entirely for footballing reasons."