Former Celtic striker Henrik Larsson has signed an 18-month contract with his hometown club Helsingborg and will leave Barcelona in the close season.

"I am a Helsingborg man from the beginning. For me there was no other alternative," Larsson is quoted as saying.

Larsson said last month he would leave the Spanish champions at the end of this season.

The 34-year-old, who joined the Catalans from Celtic in 2004, missed most of last season with a serious knee injury, and has only had limited chances this year playing as cover for leading scorer Samuel Eto'o.

Helsingborg will confirm the news at a press conference later today.

Larsson came out of international retirement to help Sweden qualify for this year's World Cup in Germany, where they have been drawn with England, Paraguay and Trinidad & Tobago.