Ex-footballer Thierry Henry to give NBA 2K17 some va va voom as playable character

Retired footballer Thierry Henry will make an unexpected appearance in 2K basketball game NBA 2K17 as a playable character. He'll also appear court side at home games of the San Antonio Spurs, the Texan team he supports.

In a statement the former Arsenal and Barcelona player said: "Being a basketball and NBA fan since I was a kid, I'm honoured to be the first football player ever to be playable in NBA 2K17. Seeing myself go toe to toe with the legends of the sport is an amazing feeling."

Henry will be available as a playable character in NBA 2K17's Blacktop mode, which supports small games between two to ten players.

The legendary Frenchman won the Premier League twice, La Liga Twice, the FA Cup three times, the Cope del Rey once and the Champions League once at club level. At international level he won the World Cup with France in 1998 and the European Championship two years later.

Since retiring after a four-year spell at the New York Red Bulls, Henry has become a pundit with Sky Sports and is now the second assistant manager of the Belgian national side, working under former Everton boss Roberto Martinez.

In April Henry posted a picture on Twitter of him having his likeness scanned saying he'd be "put into a computer game as a playable character" but not saying what. Most assumed it would be Fifa 17 or Pro Evolution Soccer 2017, but the truth was much more surprising.

On 2 September 2K announced another star from off the court would be joining NBA 2K17, this time actor Michael B Jordan, who will play an important role in the game's career mode, acting as a guide to the player's created character.

NBA 2K17 is out 20 September on PS4, Xbox One and PC.

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