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.

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.