Official: Torres Makes Milan Move Permanent

[Sir]

Chelsea FC

Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce the signing of Fernando Torres on a five-and-a-half year contract.

The move to bring the Spanish World Cup and European Championship winner to London from Liverpool for an undisclosed fee was completed on Monday evening.

Speaking at Stamford Bridge after finalising the move, Torres said:

'I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new team-mates this season and for many years to come.

'Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team. I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season.'

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said: 'This is a very significant day for Chelsea, capturing one of the best players in the world with his peak years ahead of him. We have long admired the talents of a player who is a proven goalscorer in English football and Fernando's arrival is a sign of our continuing high ambitious. I hope every Chelsea fan is as excited as I am with this news.'

Chief executive Ron Gourlay added: 'Signing a player of the stature of Fernando Torres benefits the club on many levels. Carlo Ancelotti was keen to add his talents to the squad as we continue our quest for three trophies this season, we are delighted we have succeed with that wish, and this signing will undoubtedly aid the club in realising our worldwide potential.'

Torres's scoring pedigree in English football is without doubt. The 26-year-old netted 65 goals in 102 league appearances for Liverpool and 81 in 142 games in all competitions.

He moved to the Premier League aged 23 having spent the previous 12 years at Atletico Madrid, a club based a few miles from the town of his birth on the outskirts of the capital city.
In his time at Atletico, 'El Nino' (The Kid - his nickname in Spain) was the club's youngest player and youngest captain. His debut came aged 17 and he took the armband two years later.

His first full season was a quiet start with just six goals from 36 league appearances but that became 13 from 29 games the next year and the 20-goal mark was reached in 2003/04, Torres's most prolific season in Spain and the year of his debut for the national side.

The player's subsequent emergence on the international stage and 75 goals in 174 Spanish top-flight games meant many clubs across Europe were after his signature but he chose to work under compatriot Rafael Benitez at Liverpool.

The transfer in July 2007 was valued at approximately £20 million, Luis Garcia going the other way, and Torres's first goal for the Merseysiders was against Chelsea at Anfield, opening the scoring in a 1-1 draw after getting the better of Tal Ben-Haim. It was the first of seven goals in seven games against Chelsea. It is his best return against any English club.

He scored three hat-tricks on the way to 33 goals in his first season in England, becoming the first Liverpool player since a previous wearer of the number 9 shirt, Robbie Fowler, to break the 30-goal mark in one season.

His second season returned 17 goals (injury reducing his number of appearances) as his side finished second, three points and one place above Chelsea in the league table. Last season, despite Liverpool dropping down the table to seventh, Torres accumulated a very healthy 22 goals in 32 games.

He headed to the World Cup in South Africa already a winner of the European Championships at senior international level.
In his teenage years, Torres had achieved top-scorer status for his country in both the Under 16 and Under 19 European Championships and he scored his first goal for the senior side against Italy aged 20, seven months after his first cap.

In the 2006 World Cup in Germany he scored three times in the group stage but Spain were beaten by France in the first knockout round. However there was no stopping his nation two years later at Euro 2008, Torres scoring once on the way to the final and the only goal in that match in Vienna as Germany were defeated. It was Spain's first major piece of silverware since 1964.

Last summer in South Africa, Torres struggled for full fitness and form during the World Cup having undergone surgery in April. As a result, Barcelona's Pedro took his place for a semi-final triumph over Germany.

Coach Vicente Del Bosque also left Torres out of the starting line-up for the final. Instead he came on in extra-time in the 1-0 win over Holland although he tore a muscle before the end.

Back in England this season and before joining the Blues, Torres made 26 appearances for Liverpool, scoring 11 times including both goals in Chelsea's November defeat at Anfield.

[Zidane]

Absolutely over the moon!

Welcome Torres!

[Dylan1312]

Will provide the attack power we desperately need, going to turn our season around.

[ShIbby_cFc]

Welcome Fernando! Wish you all the best and GET IN THERE!!!!!!!!

[Proud-Blue]

Over the moon. What a roller-coaster transfer day!

Welcome to the club Fernando :D

[stokerino]

Because I cannot repost this enough times...(I'll be singing it at work tomorrow!)

He left the Kop End for the Shed, Torres, Torres,

He'll score more goals in blue than red, Torres, Torres,

Fed up with Yanks and Stevie G

He came here to make history

Fernando Torres, Chelsea's number nine!

My Liverpool-supporting friend WILL be sat in the Shed will me on Sunday, and he WILL be wearing a Chelsea shirt with TORRES 9 on the back! Great times!

[nateevs]

I read the Torres transfer-talk page from page 1. The very beginning and have followed it since then every single page. I can't believe this really came to live. Welcome to Chelsea Torres.

[The Psycho Pianist]

Absolutely amazing.

Credit to Gourlay, Buck and most importantly Roman for making this happen.

Welcome Fernando, get yourself off to a good start on Sunday. We all know what you need to do :)

[specialone25]

Welcome to Stamford Bridge, Fernando Torres! It is going to be legendary watching you in a blue shirt and I'm sure you are going to be awesome (fitness and injuries permitting). Time for those that doubted Roman to start eating a colossal slice of humble pie. James Prescott, you owe Ron Gourlay a titanic apology, especially as he just concluded two of the best deals in the club's history.

[pinoy]

Welcome to the home of the champions Mr Fernando Torres!!!

does anyone think its going to take a good few weeks to get used to Torres in a Chelsea shirt?