French footballer Henry divorces in London court

LONDON, Sept 3, 2007 (AFP) — 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 25 million pounds (50 million dollars, 35 million euros).

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 ...