Blues wrap up Torres deal

Blues land Spanish ace in last-gasp £50million swoop

By Rachel Griffiths - Follow me on Twitter @SkySportsRachG   Last updated: 1st February 2011   Subscribe to RSS Feed

SKY SPORTS ON SKY
There's more live football on Sky Sports than ever before, including the Barclays Premier League, UEFA Champions League, Clydesdale Bank Premier League, England away Euro 2012 qualifiers and La Liga. With four live Sky Sports channels, as well as Sky Sports News, you'll never miss a moment on Sky. Click here for more.

Related links

Teams

Players

Also see

Chelsea have completed their transfer deadline-day swoop for Fernando Torres from Liverpool on a five-and-a-half-year contract.

The deal went right down to the wire ahead of the transfer window closing, with Torres only travelling down to London late on Monday evening to undergo a last-minute medical.

But the Blues managed to push through the late deal before the window slammed shut, with the Spaniard penning a contract thought to be worth around £50million - a British transfer record.

Premier League champions Chelsea first made a move for the Spaniard on Thursday with an unsuccessful £35m offer for his services.

And Carlo Ancelotti's side persisted in their chase for the striker, despite the Reds insisting he was not on the market.

Liverpool changed their stance over 26-year-old Torres after moving for Newcastle striking ace Andy Carroll and Ajax star Luis Suarez in two last-minute swoops of their own on Monday.

Swoop

A statement on Torres' official website said: "Spain international Fernando Torres will defend the Blue shirt of Chelsea after joining the London club on the January transfer deadline.

"The striker has signed for the reigning Premier League and FA Cup champions for five and a half seasons.

"After Liverpool and Chelsea had reached an agreement, the player travelled down to London where he successfully passed his medical before agreeing personal terms.

"Fernando Torres then put pen to paper on a deal that will see the forward remain at Chelsea until June 2016."

Torres says he is delighted to complete the move to Stamford Bridge.

"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," he said.

"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."

Significant

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck added: "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."

Torres established himself as a key player at Anfield during his time on Merseyside, but has struggled to find his top form this season.

The Spaniard, who spent almost four years at Liverpool after arriving from Atletico Madrid in 2007, could take on his former club as early as this weekend when the Reds travel to Stamford Bridge in the Premier League.

Comments (89)

Barry Morel (Manchester United fan) says...

As an outsider looking in (South African) it is so sad to see that it is all about the money and success now days and not about the sport. This is where I fault the English for allowing clubs to spend that kind of money on foreign players. Take a look at yourselves your national team use to be a force to reckon with but you cannot say that about your current team. You are totally missing the plot because an England team can only be chosen from British players so why are clubs allowed to strengthening themselves with so many foreign players. You can¿t build a notional team with foreigners. It¿s very sad to see the self destruction of what use to be a very good and talented British Football League.

Posted 04:22 1st February 2011

Jason Moore (Manchester United fan) says...

how much longer will theses clubs be allowed to be bankrolled by wealthy owners, torres is a great signing but its another nail in the coffin for football

Posted 04:09 1st February 2011

Lee Slater (Wigan Athletic fan) says...

Do people really care that much? All that shirt burning business is laughable. At the end of the day, he's left Liverpool who haven't won any major competitions during his tenure and has gone to Chelsea where he most likely thinks he'll stand a better chance of doing so. And who wouldn't think that? People harp on about greed, but the fact of the matter is everyone who spouts that would be staring down the barrel of hypocrisy if someone came along and offered them more money to do the same job elsewhere. Any man in his shoes would of at least seriously considered leaving for Chelsea, at the least. Steven "one club guy" Gerrard himself was tempted at one stage, so if thats the case then anyones head can be turned. But my point is this. This is football, when you dont win things consistently, you tend to lose your best to those who are. And when you have the money to replace them I really dont see what all the spilt milk is about. Its not like the Kop was seriously entertaining the idea of any success this season anyway, so his departure isnt a disaster. Give Suarez and Carroll a chance and forget all this hate. If these 2 are half as good as they been recently, then you'll have an effective strikeforce instead of a one man band who hasnt been at his best for 2 years.

Posted 03:27 1st February 2011

Hoax Kirkby (Liverpool fan) says...

Beforehand, I understood why Torres would want to move on to another team, in terms of challenging for silverware. And I, like so many fans, would have always wished him all the success in whatever choices he would make for career purposes. However, the manner in which he requested a transfer with 3 days of the transfer window open, whilst Lverpool had paid 22m for a suitable partnership for him, and knowing the club perhaps expected him to be part of the rebuilding process, and him announcing his pledge to the club a mere few weeks ago, I sadly look back at a possible legend who has been totally disrespectful. Our 57m strike force better pay off.

Posted 03:12 1st February 2011

Jake Marsh (Manchester United fan) says...

£50 million pounds for an out of form striker i would hate to see how much it would have cost chelsea if he had been any good this season but alas its all for not because chelsea liver arsenal and city can make all the transfers they want 2 its manchester united who will be lifting the lot at the end of the season bye bye torres thanks for making chelsea waste another load of money on a flop signing

Posted 03:10 1st February 2011

Hoax Kirkby (Liverpool fan) says...

Beforehand, I understood why Torres would want to move on to another team, in terms of challenging for silverware. And I, like so many fans, would have always wished him all the success in whatever choices he would make for career purposes. However, the manner in which he requested a transfer with 3 days of the transfer window open, whilst Lverpool had paid 22m for a suitable partnership for him, and knowing the club perhaps expected him to be part of the rebuilding process, and him announcing his pledge to the club a mere few weeks ago, I sadly look back at a possible legend who has been totally disrespectful. Our 57m strike force better pay off.

Posted 03:09 1st February 2011

Andy H (Chelsea fan) says...

Congratulations Torres & Luiz on joining Chelsea. It's about time Torres finally hits the big time....!

Posted 03:03 1st February 2011

Chris Hewish (Liverpool fan) says...

Who told Torres chelski are a big club? Biggest comedian of the day by far - well apart from the person who thought spending 35 million on carroll was good business - time will tell - YNWA

Posted 03:00 1st February 2011

Will Coultas (Liverpool fan) says...

He broke Liverpool hearts today. He will never be loved like he was at Liverpool. I think even Torres deep down wants to be at a better club than Chelsea, he took any offer he could to get out of Liverpool, and that hurts to say!

Posted 02:59 1st February 2011

Rob Nowrie (Manchester United fan) says...

I feel for the liverpool supporters here. Just last week this man said " I will see out my contract " how quickly things change when chelsea come knocking. This is down to money nothing else. Liverpool helped build him into the player that he is today and he turns his back on them, things such as this is what's wrong with football these days.

Posted 02:59 1st February 2011

Gavin Diener (Newcastle United fan) says...

Funny how the same Chelsea fans who branded Torres a has-been only a few weeks back are now singing his praises. 50m quid? Good on you, Liverpool (just a pity you blew most of it on Carroll). Abramovich is really losing it. Bad news for the Chelsea fans is: Torres only ever scored goals against Chelsea!

Posted 02:59 1st February 2011

Richard Kay (Liverpool fan) says...

How did he pass the medical?, he's always injured!

Posted 02:51 1st February 2011

Patrick Kenny says...

The worst party in this deal was in fact Liverpool. Why did they not dig their heels in and keep the guy especially seeing as he is a player with integrity and would play at his best. Carroll and Suarez dont make half of Torres. Torres thinks Chelsea are one of the biggest teams in the world but he couldnt be further from the truth as my team United and Liverpool are...Chelsea are only a little club. Even as a fierce hater of Liverpool i feel for their fans as they give their team great support but blame Kenny and your new owner for the further troubles coming your clubs way...you think the last year was dark....wait till you see the next year

Posted 02:46 1st February 2011

Joe Johnson (Liverpool fan) says...

I have a feeling that in the end everybody will win. Liverpool have today started building for the future (next year!) and Chelsea might become Champions of Europe. If I should pick one winner, I'd say it's Liverpool, since Torres, great as he can be, has been a sulk. Let''s see how long it will be before he sulks again. He's definitely lost some of his speed, but can still be lethal. Good luck Torres, you could have been a legend, but now you're first and foremost viewed as a Judas by the Kop.

Posted 02:46 1st February 2011

Ben Fuller (Chelsea fan) says...

great great news to here nando has signed for us. he is a big player with great ability and proven goalscoring abilitys in the premier league. its also good to get one over on our rivals and steal a high class player from them. this is a great move by chelsea and is the only liverpool player i would welcome at the bridge. great also to see luiz sign today but welcome torres to the chelsea family may it last longer than ur time at the kop. come on sunday 2-0 chelsea torres hatrick wot a way to stick it to former employers

Posted 00:56 1st February 2011

Awotunde Sunday (Chelsea fan) says...

chelsea has made d best buys in torres and luis i think we are ready to win d champions league now.Up chelsea.

Posted 00:54 1st February 2011

Kris Allen (Liverpool fan) says...

you are too show whats wrong with football today you were a disgrace to the liverpool shirt today and i hope ur career goes down the toilet coz greed is very very dangerous maybe you wanna look at players like stevie g he knows what he says is true

Posted 00:51 1st February 2011

Omowumi Sunday (Chelsea fan) says...

Am very happy to capeture fernado torres

Posted 00:45 1st February 2011

George Michael (Liverpool fan) says...

Torres: You've lost the chance to be a legend in Folklore at a Real Club. Money Talks.

Posted 00:45 1st February 2011

Adam Pryor (Wolverhampton Wanderers fan) says...

Torress is never worth £50m in the form he's been in this season. Liverpool should be laughing except they've made exactly the same mistake and paid way over the odds for Caroll

Posted 00:44 1st February 2011

Add Comment*

Send us your views

Are you a Sky Sports subscriber?

*All fields required, your email address will be kept private