Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce Diego Costa has today completed his transfer from Atletico Madrid by signing a five-year contract.

He will join up with the first team for our pre-season European training camp next week.

Since becoming a first-choice selection at Atletico, Costa has been one of the most consistent strikers in European football, with his goals and performances over the course of 2013/14 propelling his former club to a first La Liga title in 18 years and a place in the Champions League final.

Powerful and direct, the 25-year-old built a strong reputation in Spain as a fine finisher, particularly in one-on-one situations, and is capable of scoring goals with both his left and right foot while his physical nature also makes him a real threat in the air. His favoured position is as the central striker, with his ability to run in behind opposition defenders making him difficult to pick up.

Costa said: ‘I am very happy to sign for Chelsea. Everybody knows it is a big club in a very competitive league, and I am very excited to get started in England with a fantastic coach and team-mates. Having played against Chelsea last season I know the high quality of the squad I am joining.

‘I would like to thank everybody at Atletico who made me into the player I am, it was an incredible time for me, but now I am starting a new adventure and I hope to win many trophies with Chelsea.’

Born in Brazil, Costa’s professional career began at Portuguese club Braga in February 2006. A loan spell at Penafiel in the second division followed before he was sold to Atletico during the 2006/07 campaign. He was then immediately loaned back to Braga until the end of the season, where he scored his first goal for the club in a UEFA Cup win against Parma.

Over the course of the following two seasons, further loan spells with Celta Vigo and Albecete proved important periods in the player’s development as he gained regular first-team football and developed a ruthless streak in front of goal.