Fernando Torres: AC Milan seal loan deal for Chelsea striker

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Fernando TorresImage source, @acmilan
Image caption,

AC Milan will be Torres's fourth career club

Chelsea and Spain striker Fernando Torres has joined Italian side AC Milan on a two-year loan deal.

The Blues confirmed the move on Sunday, moments after signing £10.5m striker Loic Remy from QPR as a replacement.

Torres, 30, moved to Chelsea for a then British record £50m in January 2011, external but struggled to live up his price tag.

Media caption,

Spain beat Australia in Group B

"I'm really happy to have arrived in Milan, I cannot wait to start this new adventure," said Torres, who is set to wear the number nine jersey.

His Chelsea contract is due to expire in the summer of 2016 when the AC Milan loan expires.

The ex-Liverpool and Atletico Madrid striker scored just 20 goals in 110 league appearances during his spell at Stamford Bridge, but was part of the club's 2012 Champions League success.

Torres's prospects at Chelsea were hampered further this season by the arrival of fellow Spain international Diego Costa from Atletico Madrid this summer.

Remy, 27, comes in to replace Torres and joins Costa and Didier Drogba as manager Jose Mourinho's attacking options at Chelsea.

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

Club total

426 league appearances, 169 goals

Spain (2003-present)

108 appearances, 37 goals

Milan have been on the lookout for another forward to replace Mario Ballotelli, who left the club for Liverpool last week.

Rossoneri coach Filippo Inzaghi said: "I spoke to Mourinho to find out about what kind of man Torres is.

"He is a player that has scored lots of goals and you don't forget this all of a sudden.

"He has the right attributes from a human point of view and that is good."

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

£35m

Andy Carroll

Newcastle to Liverpool

2011

£35m

Alexis Sanchez

Barcelona to Arsenal

2014

Torres's British record transfer fee stood until Angel Di Maria moved from Real Madrid to Manchester United for £59.7m this week.

Chelsea fans only saw glimpses of the form that brought Torres 65 goals in 102 league appearances for previous club Liverpool.

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Fernando Torres cost Liverpool a reported £20m when he joined in 2007 from Atletico Madrid

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

The Spain international scored 24 Premier League goals in his debut season, and 65 in total for the Reds

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

In January 2011 Torres became a record breaker with his £50m move to Chelsea. Liverpool signed Luis Suarez and Andy Caroll on the same day

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

Torres scored just one goal for Chelsea that season, and missed an open goal against Manchester United the next season

Image source, Getty Images
Image caption,

He scored 20 Premier League goals for Chelsea, the final one coming at Cardiff on the last day of last season

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