Torres to Chelsea for $79.5M

A.E

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Transfer fee set for Fernando Torres
LIVERPOOL, England -- Chelsea has broken the British transfer record, signing Fernando Torres from Liverpool for a fee reported to be 50 million pounds ($79.5 million).

Monday's deal is soccer's third-most expensive transfer, exceeded by Real Madrid's 2009 purchases of Cristiano Ronaldo from Manchester United for 80 million pounds ($131 million) and Kaka from AC Milan for 65 million euros ($92 million). It will be a similar figure to that received by Inter Milan when the Italian side team sold Zlatan Ibrahimovic to Barcelona the same year, a deal that sent Samuel Eto'o to Inter.

"Liverpool Football Club tonight confirmed they have agreed a fee with Chelsea for the sale of Fernando Torres," a Liverpool statement said. "The player has now been given permission to speak to the London club."

Liverpool described Torres' move Monday as a "British-record transfer fee" after he signed a 5½-year deal.

"I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new teammates this season and for many years to come," Torres 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."

Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez is widely recognized as being the most expensive signing in British football after moving from Man United for about 47 million pounds in 2009.

Liverpool replaced Torres, who has spent 3½ years at Liverpool after his move from Atletico Madrid, with England striker Andy Carroll from Newcastle.

Carroll is on the brink of a 35 million-pound ($56 million) move to Anfield on the final day of Europe's January transfer window. Uruguay forward Luis Suarez joined Liverpool for 26.5 million pounds ($36 million) from Ajax on a 5½-year contract.

Torres, whose contract at Liverpool was due to expire in 2013, has regained some form over the past few weeks after struggling early in the season as he recovered from a groin injury.

Three of his nine goals this season have come in the past four games. Overall, he has struck 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool.

Torres remained one of the most sought-after players in world football despite a disappointing contribution to Spain's World Cup win in South Africa last year. In 2008, he scored the winning goal in Spain's 1-0 victory over Germany in the European Championship final.

Chelsea manager Carlo Ancelotti will have an embarrassment of riches up front if Torres completes his move, but how the Italian coach aligns his team remains to be seen.

Torres appears to be a better long-term option than Drogba, who turns 33 in March and hasn't been as prolific this season as he was when he scored 37 goals for Chelsea last term.

Torres looks to have lost patience with Liverpool after its poor form over the past 18 months. The Reds finished seventh in the Premier League in 2010 and made their worst start to a campaign for 56 years this season.

With the prospects of silverware slim at Liverpool, Torres will be hoping to win trophies at Chelsea, the defending Premier League and FA Cup champion.

-ESPN
 

The Guid

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Hey, they get two guys who can at least score and take $79.5M from Chelsea. Sure, they lose one of the biggest pieces of the team but can't say they made out too poorly.
 

cruzg24

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Good move by Chelsea, they bought one of the best strikers in the world to put next to Drogba. Its gonna be sweet watching them play together.
 

Hanzatron

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good move for chelsea where as for Liverpool, it was a bad idea to release Torres
 

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