Madrid - Chelsea and Atletico Madrid announced on Thursday that they had reached
an initial agreement that would see Diego Costa return to the Spanish
club.
"Atletico de Madrid and Chelsea have reached an initial
agreement for the transfer of Diego Costa," the Spanish side said in a
statement.
"The agreement is pending the formalisation of the contract between our club and the Spanish international forward.
"The
English club has authorised Diego Costa to travel to Madrid in the
coming days to undergo medical tests and settle his contract with our
club."
Chelsea said they had "agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa".
"The transfer will be subject to the agreement of personal terms and a medical."
Costa,
28, has been frozen out by Chelsea manager Antonio Conte and spent the
transfer window angling for a return to former club Atletico that never
materialised.
Sports dailies Marca and Mundo Deportivo earlier
said the two clubs had sealed a deal for the Brazil-born forward's
return to Spain until 2021.
The deal was worth €60 million, according to AS, while Marca said Atletico will pay €55 million with a further €10 million in add-ons.
Costa will not,
however, find himself straight back in action, with Atletico officially
banned from registering new players until January.
Costa was not
included in Chelsea's 25-man squad for the Champions League group phase,
ironically drawn in Group C along with Atletico.
That ensured he would
not become cup-tied and therefore remains free to play in the
competition for another team in the second part of the season.
The reported transfer fee smashes Atletico's record of €40 million paid for Radamel Falcao in 2011.
Costa
returns as a hero at Atletico having led Los Rojiblancos to their only
La Liga title in the past two decades and the Champions League final by
scoring 36 goals in the 2013/14 season.
His first stint at the
club ended in injury and anguish as Costa limped off with a hamstring
injury less than 10 minutes into the Champions League final against
local rivals Real Madrid. Atletico went on to lose in extra time.
However,
the fact coach Diego Simeone started the Brazilian-born striker in
Lisbon despite his injury problems is testament to the Argentine's faith
in Costa and Simeone has tried on several occasions to bring Costa back
to the club since he left for Chelsea in 2014.
Indeed, according
to Spanish media reports, Costa's return was one of the key demands from
Simeone before extending his contract with Atletico to 2020 earlier
this month.
Costa also had his mind set on a return after being
told by Chelsea boss Conte that he was no longer part of his plans
despite scoring 20 Premier League goals as Chelsea regained the title
last season.
"I will only leave Chelsea for Atletico," Costa told
reporters in June before returning to Brazil, where he spent all summer
ignoring Chelsea's requests to return to training.
A grudge match
when the two sides meet in the Champions League next week will be
avoided as Costa can't be registered until January.
However, his
return gives Atletico a huge boost in their quest to finally land the
Champions League title come the new year after falling to Real in the
latter stages in each of the last four seasons.
Moreover, next
season Atletico have the chance to lift the trophy on home soil after
their new 68 000-seater Wanda Metropolitano stadium was chosen as the
venue for the 2019 Champions League final.