aThe long-awaited #103m deal to sell Wembley Stadium to the Football Association has finally been completed.

Wembley plc's board ended months of speculation by putting pen to paper yesterday to pave the way for the #320m project to build a new stadium, which would form the centrepiece of England's bid to host the 2006 World Cup, to be completed.

Shareholders' approval is expected within the next month to seal the deal, which sees ownership of the stadium and adjoining land passing to the English National Stadium Development Company, a subsidiary of the FA.

The FA's acting executive director, David Davies, expressed his ''delight'' at the news, which is due to be confirmed to the Stock Exchange by Wembley plc this morning.