Football star Thierry Henry is reported to have paid out a reported £8m to his Croydon-born ex-wife Claire Merry as their divorce is finalised.

The £130,000-a-week former Arsenal striker, 31, has agreed the settlement with 27-year-old model Claire, also known as Nicole, to avoid further court wrangles.

The pair, who were married for four years and have three-year-old daughter Tea, met on the set of the famous “Va Va Voom” Renault Clio adverts in 2001 in which Henry starred.

Claire was granted a fast track divorce last September.

But in July, Claire and Henry failed to reach an agreement in their High Court battle.

Henry had hired law firm Mishcon de Reya, which represented Princess Diana and Heather Mills, while Claire used Prince Charles and Sir Paul McCartney’s divorce lawyer Fiona Shackleton.

A deal was eventually struck late last week.