New York (Chinatown Newswire) — The Chinatown Soccer Club last night delivered a stunning statement of their intent to become a major player in world football by moving swiftly to agree deals in principle to sign former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry as well as Real Madrid and Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

A delegation from the CSC, led by legendary midfield general Andrew Sutherland and tricky winger Kevin Trageser spent the last two weeks flying around the world to hold talks with the players’ representatives and sew up deals with both Henry and Casillas.

“When I heard that I had a chance to come to New York, a city I love, and play for a legendary team like the CSC, it was an easy decision, really,” Henry said when reached at his London home yesterday. “I realized that I could be part of history because I think soccer can be a lot bigger in the United States.”

The French superstar also said that having a delegation including inspirational players like Sutherland and Trageser travel to meet with him signaled that the CSC’s intentions were serious and helped him choose New York over Barcelona at the twelfth hour.

Casillas echoed Henry’s views, adding that while he was grateful to having had the opportunity to play for Real Madrid, he was looking for a new challenge and that moving to the States seemed like the best choice for his career.

“I expect a tough fight for the [number one] jersey,” Casillas said. “Coach Stochl has made it clear to me that both Mike Sisk and [Vikram] Kansara, who is known here in Spain as the Terror from Bombay, won’t just surrender their place.”

CSC player-manager Gerhard Stochl said yesterday that was delighted to welcome Henry and Casillas on board, especially after losing defensive lynchpin Duncan Hamilton to bitter rivals Blatte United a few weeks ago.

“Signing two players of international quality was exactly what the club needed after losing him [Hamilton],” Stochl said from his bar stool at Nevada Smith’s, a local pub, where he was keeping an eye on the Mexico vs. Argentina Copa America semifinal last night.

CSC vice-captain Peter Sutherland was equally ecstatic, saying that having players like Henry and Casillas in the squad would help the club move forward both “on and off the pitch.”

The enigmatic French striker and Spain’s top keeper are the latest soccer stars to move to the United States, joining superstar David Beckham who arrived in Los Angeles earlier today.