Henry, who arrived in the Catalan capital following eight years at Arsenal, was pictured on Barca TV arriving at the stadium in black pullover and blue jeans before changing into the club's new sky blue away strip.

The 29-year-old passed morning medical tests and was due at 6pm (1600 GMT) formally to receive the acclaim of thousands of fans who gathered pitchside at the Nou Camp.

"This morning he passed all the tests satisfactorily. There are no problems, everything is in order," club doctor Ricard Pruna told FCBarcelona.com.

"It means a lot to come here and play with some of the best players in the world," Henry told Barca TV after arriving on Sunday night on a private flight from London.

"Barca is more than a club. Everybody knows about Barca. The most important thing that has made me come is the way Barca plays, the fans and the support they give," he added.

Henry will next season link up with Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto'o and Argentine starlet Lionel Messi in a fearsome forward line which nevertheless in the opinion of some observers cannot accommodate four such attack-minded stars.

The club earlier said on its website that there were still some loose ends to tie up before Henry's move could be finalised.

"There are still a few minor details to be sorted out between the three interested parties: Arsenal FC, FC Barcelona and Thierry Henry," it said.

Barcelona is looking to strengthen its squad after finishing runner-up in the Spanish league this season behind arch-rivals Real Madrid. It completed the La Liga and Champions League double in 2006.

Messi was among the first to hail the arrival of Henry, who is Arsenal's leading all-time scorer with 226 goals in 369 games since moving to Highbury from Juventus eight years ago. "Henry is a great player and for that reason he is coming to Barca," he told reporters.

Messi told El Mundo Deportivo he did not fear for his place.

"For me, the presence of Henry here does not worry me. I am not a child any more and I know what I can do," said the Argentine.

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.

Barcelona tried to snare Henry last year but he opted to sign a new four-year contract with Arsenal that would have seen him stay at the club through 2010.

But 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 led the player to consider moving to Spain.

"Arsene has been part of my life for as long as I can remember," he wrote in an open letter to fans published in British daily The Sun on Saturday.

"I cannot take the chance to be there without Arsene Wenger and David Dein," he added.