Soccer star Henry in quickie divorce

Thierry Henry and his English wife Claire Merry divorced today after four years of marriage.

The “quickie” divorce took place before a District Judge at the Principal Registry of the High Court’s Family Division in central London amid speculation that Barcelona star Henry, 30, could face the biggest ever divorce payment by a footballer.

Ms Merry, 27, a model and mother of their two-year-old daughter Tea, is expected to be entitled to a large part of his fortune, estimated at £25m (€37m).

They shared a six-bedroom home in Hampstead, north London, which he bought five years ago for £5.95m (€8.8m) while playing for Arsenal.

The couple met when they starred together in television ads for Renault Clio cars in which Henry used his “va va voom” catchphrase.

Henry announced he was leaving Merry in June, just before his transfer to to Spain, where he is reportedly paid £130,000 (€192,000) a week.