Spain forward Fernando Torres' loan move from Chelsea to AC Milan will become a permanent transfer next month, the English Premier League club said on Saturday.

“The striker moved to the San Siro on a two-year loan deal in August and on January 5th he will complete a permanent transfer to the Serie A side,” the Stamford Bridge club said in a statement.

The 30-year-old World Cup helped Chelsea lift the Champions League, the Europa League and the FA Cup.

His career may not have reached the heights of previous spells at Liverpool or his local club Atletico Madrid although he still crucially scored in the club's famous Champions League semi-final victory over Barcelona and in the Europa League final triumph over Benfica.

He also secured the Golden Boot in the 2012 European Championships whilst a Chelsea player.

Confirming the end of his four year stay the club added:

“Chelsea Football Club thanks Fernando for his service during the past four seasons and wishes him the very best for the future.”

Atletico Madrid assistant coach German Burgos had said earlier on Saturday that a deal to bring the striker back to his boyhood club was “on the verge of completion and we are waiting for things to firm up.

“He will be a very important reinforcement for the second half of the season. We will get the best out of him...and he knows where he is coming to.”