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PAY-OUT: Henry's spilt with his wife Claire will mean a carve-up of his estimated $77 million fortune.
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LONDON - THIERRY Henry's wife could receive up to £10 million (S$30.7 million) in the biggest divorce payout by a footballer.
The legal battle comes after the French player admitted his four-year marriage to English model Claire, who is also known by her professional name of Nicole Merry, was over.
He has hired London law firm Mishcon de Reya, which represented Princess Diana and Paul McCartney's former wife Heather Mills in their divorce battles, as he faces the carve-up of his estimated £25 million fortune, reported The Daily Mail.
Henry's split coincides with his lucrative move from Arsenal to Spanish giants Barcelona, where he will reportedly earn £130,000 a week.
The case follows a number of high-profile divorces.
In 2004, Arsenal player Ray Parlour's wife, Karen, was awarded £1.8 million of his future earnings after arguing she had played a vital role in building his career.
In Henry's case, divorce experts have predicted a judge may order a 'clean break', meaning his wife would receive a huge lump sum rather than a proportion of his future pay.
The newspaper claimed the footballer said he may sell the couple's six-bedroom home in Hampstead, North London. He bought the mansion for £5.95 million five years ago.
The couple were together for two years before they married in 2003. They have a two-year-old daughter, Tea.
Owing to the relatively short period of their union, divorce experts say Merry is unlikely to be awarded an equal share of her husband's fortune.
Henry was already established as a successful footballer when they met, so it would be difficult for her to argue that she had a part in making him famous.
On top of a lump sum, he will have to pay child maintenance in line with his high salary.
Henry, the former Arsenal skipper, was apparently reluctant to leave the Emirates Stadium.
According to The Sun, he told friends: 'I didn't really want to leave Arsenal - they're my favourite club and I loved playing for them.
'But lots of things have changed recently, and I had to get away from everything English, including my wife, unfortunately.
'It's a very sad time for all of us, but you've got to know when to move on.'
A statement through his lawyers said: 'He is anxious to move on with his life and maintain the best possible relationship he can with Claire for the benefit of their daughter Tea, whom he loves very much.'
The statement added that Henry's move to Barcelona was 'entirely for footballing reasons'.
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