The four-year deal, believed to be worth 24 million euros (32 million dollars), will be subject to a medical and the completion of formalities which are expected to be completed in the next two or three days.

The 29-year-old Frenchman also confirmed the dramatic move saying that recent boardroom changes at the London club had convinced him it was time to go despite having signed a new contract just a year ago.

A statement on the Arsenal official website Saturday read: "Arsenal Football Club can confirm that it has reached an agreement with Barcelona for the transfer of Thierry Henry."

The news that the iconic striker is on his way after eight glorious years with the Gunners is sure to cause turmoil at the club which has struggled to keep pace with Manchester United and Chelsea in the English Premiership in the last few years.

Henry made it clear in newspaper interviews published on Saturday that his decision to leave had been hastened by the departure from the London club of vice-chairman David Dein and the doubts swirling around the future of coach and fellow Frenchman Arsene Wenger.

In an open letter to fans published in The Sun, the France striker said: "Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember.

"Unfortunately and understandably he has said that at this moment he will not commit to the club past the expiration of his current deal which finishes at the end of the coming season.

"I respect his decision and his honesty but I will be 31 at the end of next season and I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein.

"This is solely my decision, no-one has forced me to do anything and I will represent myself in this transaction. I feel it is something I just had to do."

Talking to French sports daily L'Equipe, Henry said that he was scheduled to undergo a medical in Barcelona on Monday.

Henry said he had been disappointed that news of the mega deal had leaked on Friday before all the loose ends had been tied up "but some people quite clearly could not hold their tongues."

"I always made it clear that if I was to leave, the only club I would go to would be Barcelona," the Gunners skipper said.

"I chose Barcelona for the type of football they play, for the history of the club for the stadium they play in.

"Also for (coach) Frank Rijkaard for whom I have the greatest respect both as a player and a coach.

"It's true that for me it will be a new league championship, a new language but I chose Barcelona for all of those reasons."

Barcelona vice-chairman Ferran Soriano who handled the transfer deal for the Catalan club, said that he hoped it would be finalised by Monday.

Henry is Arsenal's leading all-time scorer with 226 goals in 369 games since moving to Highbury from Juventus eight years ago at the instigation of Wenger.

Currently sidelined with a leg injury, Henry said that he hoped to resume full training in two weeks and be ready for Barcelona's start to their preparations for the new season on July 20.

He also said he hoped to continue to play a full part in France's campaign to reach the Euro 2008 finals in Austria and Switzerland.

Henry has played 92 times for his country and scored 39 goals.

The Frenchman will be sporting the number 14 shirt for Barcelona which was worn by their Dutch legend Johann Cruyff.