Falcao at the bridge

LONDON. — English soccer champions Chelsea have signed striker Radamel Falcao in a season-long loan deal from Monaco. The Colombia international returns to England following a season-long loan spell with English Premier League rivals Manchester United last season.

Jose Mourinho has been keen to land the player, who scored four goals during his time at Old Trafford, after he made a big impression on the Chelsea boss while at Porto and Atletico Madrid.

The 29-year-old will link up with former Atletico team-mates Thibaut Courtois, Filipe Luis and Diego Costa, as well as international colleague Juan Cuadrado at Stamford Bridge.

Falcao said:“I am very happy to be joining Chelsea and can’t wait to start training and help with our aim of retaining the league title and being successful in Europe.”

And a statement from Chelsea read: “Chelsea Football Club is delighted to announce we have agreed terms with Monaco for the season-long loan of Radamel Falcao,

“The Colombian international will link up with Jose Mourinho’s squad for the 2015/16 campaign.

“The 29-year-old has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most feared strikers, having started his career as a teenager in his homeland before joining Argentinian giants River Plate in 2001.

“Eight years later, having established himself as one of South America’s hottest properties, Falcao arrived in Europe at Porto, where he made his Champions League debut against Chelsea.

“He may not have scored that evening but soon began finding the net regularly as he lifted successive Europa League titles, first with Porto and the second after joining Atletico Madrid in the summer of 2011.

“Having scored a hat-trick against the Blues in the 2012 UEFA Super Cup, the striker left Madrid for Monaco in the summer of 2013, enjoying an impressive first half of the campaign before injury ruled him out of the rest of the season and the following summer’s World Cup.

“After two goals in three games at the beginning of last season, he joined Manchester United on loan for the campaign, helping Louis van Gaal’s side back into the Champions League.” — Sky Sports.