Skipper Henry quits Arsenal for Barcelona in £16m deal

Arsenal insiders confirmed last night that the transfer is "imminent" after Nou Camp officials finally made their move for the France striker this week.

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Ferran Soriano, Barcelona's finance director, conducted the negotiations with Henry's agent, Jerome Anderson, once Arsenal made it clear they were prepared to accept an offer for their 29-year-old captain and talisman.

It represents a massive blow for Arsenal but one considered inevitable from the moment their vice-chairman David Dein was ousted from the board two months ago.

Henry was particularly close to Dein and his son, Darren, so much so that in July 2003 Darren was best man when the player wed model Nicole Merry.

Darren Dein also works with Anderson at management group SEM, and those who remain on the club board may now regret Dein Snr's shock exit, in the wake of a row over the takeover bid by American billionaire Stanley Kroenke.

Henry almost moved to Barcelona 12 months ago but after losing to the La Liga champions in the Champions League Final in Paris, he pledged his future to the north London club he has served with distinction for eight seasons.

It was thought at that stage that he would end his career under the guidance of Arsene Wenger. But a frustrating season was marred by injury, as well as a string of poor Arsenal performances, and there has even been speculation about Wenger's own future.

Only yesterday the French coach was publicly courted by Real Madrid president Ramon Calderon to replace Fabio Capello. All of this has left Henry unsettled and keen to move on.

Winning the Champions League remains the one honour that has so far eluded the Frenchman and he clearly now sees Barcelona as a better bet for completing his full set of international and club medals.

According to sources in Spain last night, Barca coach Frank Rijkaard also intends to add Roma's Christian Chivu and Monaco's Yaya Toure — brother of Arsenal defender Kolo — as well as Eric Abidal from Lyon to his squad.

But Henry will have been most attracted by the chance to line up with Ronaldinho, Lionel Messi and possibly even Samuel Eto'o, if Barcelona refuse to accept offers for the Cameroon striker from Manchester United, AC Milan, Inter Milan, Liverpool and a host of other suitors.

Only last week, talk of Henry's move to Barcelona was vehemently denied, not least by Anderson, who threatened action when the story first appeared in respected magazine France Football.

There were soon more reports of Wenger and Barca representatives meeting in Paris, although again that was denied.

Sportsmail last night contacted Wenger but he declined to comment.

The summer of transfer activity has begun to reach fever pitch with Charlton striker Darren Bent last night agreeing to join Tottenham for £30,000-a-week less than was on offer at West Ham a week ago.

Spurs will pay a club record £16m for Bent, with £13m payable now and a further £3m in success-related payments.

Bent decided to accept £45,000-a-week over five years, rather than £75,000-a-week to play under his former Charlton boss Alan Curbishley.

Preston's England Under 21 striker David Nugent was in talks with Sunderland yesterday over a £7m move although Portsmouth were also granted permission to speak to him.

In other forward moves yesterday, Middlesbrough confirmed the signing of Turkey's Tuncay Sanli, 25, on a free transfer from Fenerbahce.

And Birmingham City are signing Scotland striker Garry O'Connor, 24, from Lokomotiv Moscow for £2.65m.