London's High Court will play host to a superstar next week when Michael Jackson testifies in person to contest a claim that he owes millions of pounds to an Arab sheikh.

Pleading health fears, the singer had offered to appear via video link from in his battle with Sheikh Abdulla bin Hamad Al Khalifa, second son of the King of Bahrain.

But he changed his tune today and his lawyer told Mr Justice Sweeney that he would now take the stand in person.

“He has been cleared by his medical advisers to travel in two days’ time,” Robert Englehart, QC, said. Mr Jackson is expected to arrive in the UK over the weekend and give evidence on Monday afternoon.

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The sheikh is suing Mr Jackson for the return of £4.7 million which he claims to have given the star to help him to get back on his feet after the end of his criminal trial over child molestation charges in California in 2005.

Bankim Thanki, QC, representing Sheikh Abdulla, has told the court that the King of Pop signed a contract for recording albums, writing an autobiography and staging shows in which it had been agreed that $7,000,000 (£4.7 million) would be deducted from Mr Jackson’s agreed royalties to pay for the expenses.

The sheikh also planned to release a charity single I Have This Dream, which he wrote himself. The court has heard that he spent $2.2 million for Mr Jackson to record the song at a London studio, but Mr Jackson's vocals were not good enough.

Mr Jackson insists there was no valid agreement and that the sheikh’s case is based on “mistake, misrepresentation and undue influence”. In his pleaded defence, the singer insists that the payments he received were “gifts” and that no project was ever finalised.

Sheikh Abdulla is the governor of the Southern Governate of Bahrain and head of the country’s Public Commission for the Protection of Marine Resources, Environment and Wildlife. He is also the founder of the 2 Seas Group, an entertainment and record production label.

Mr Jackson may have been advised that appearing only via videolink risked alienating the judge. When Mr Englehart applied on Tuesday for his client to give evidence from Los Angeles, Mr Justice Sweeney responded: “I want to get to the bottom of this as best I can.”

He had asked for medical experts to get together and provide him with a report by 9am today.

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