Fernando Torres: Atletico Madrid loan deal for AC Milan striker

Fernando Torres scored in the Europa League final for Chelsea against Benfica in 2013

Spain striker Fernando Torres has agreed to return to Atletico Madrid on loan from AC Milan until the end of the 2015-16 season.

Torres, 30, is going back to his boyhood club seven-and-a-half-years after leaving to join Liverpool.

"At last back home. Thanks to all that have made this dream come true. Forza @Atleti," he said on Twitter.

He joined Serie A club AC Milan from Chelsea, who paid a then British record transfer fee of £50m in January 2011.

Biggest transfer fees paid by a British club
£59.7m	Angel Di Maria	Real Madrid to Man Utd	2014
£50m	Fernando Torres	Liverpool to Chelsea	2011
£42.4m	Mesut Ozil	Real Madrid to Arsenal	2013
£38m	Sergio Aguero	Atletico Madrid to Man City	2011
£37.1m	Juan Mata	Chelsea to Man Utd	2014

The Italian club confirmed a permanent deal for Torres, following its own initial two-year loan deal, on Saturday, but have allowed him to play for Atletico after Italy winger Alessio Cerci, 27, arrived from the Spanish side.

Torres helped Chelsea to win the Champions League, Europa League and FA Cup while at Stamford Bridge.

In a statement, Chelsea thanked the 2010 World Cup winner for "his service during the past four seasons" and wished him "the very best for the future".

The stats

• Torres cost Liverpool a reported £20m when he signed in 2007 from Atletico Madrid and scored 65 goals in 102 league appearances.
• He was a member of Spain's 2010 World Cup-winning squad.
• Despite his record transfer fee, Torres scored just 20 goals for Chelsea in 110 league appearances.

Fernando Torres's career in goals
Atletico Madrid (2001-07)	214 league appearances, 84 goals
Liverpool (2007-11)	102 league appearances, 65 goals
Chelsea (2011-14)	110 league appearances, 20 goals
AC Milan (2014)	10 league appearances, 1 goal
Club total	436 league appearances, 170 goals
Spain (2003-present)	110 appearances, 38 goals