Chelsea and Atletico Madrid reach transfer terms for Diego Costa

Chelsea and Atletico Madrid have agreed terms that would see Diego Costa return to the La Liga club, the Premier League club confirmed on Thursday.

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.

Chelsea Football Club has today agreed terms with Atletico Madrid for the transfer of Diego Costa... https://t.co/TpJBp3W2Lf pic.twitter.com/5o6OM10inP

— Chelsea FC (@ChelseaFC) September 21, 2017

But both Marca and Mundo Deportivo newspapers said the two clubs had sealed a deal Thursday for the Brazil-born forward’s return to Spain until 2021.

AS had also added that Costa would shortly undergo a medical and be officially unveiled in the coming days.

The deal is expected to be worth 60 million euros ($71.3m), according to AS, while Marca said Atletico will pay 55m euros with a further 10m euros in add-ons.

Costa will not, however, find himself straight back in action, with Atletico officially banned from signing 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.