Chelsea flop Alvaro Morata seals 18-month loan deal to Atletico Madrid

Alvaro Morata has completed an 18-month loan deal from Chelsea to Atletico Madrid.

The striker has formalised the long-awaited move after Monaco sealed a loan deal for Atletico Madrid winger Gelson Martins, freeing up room for Morata.

The Spaniard had fallen out of favour at Chelsea under Maurizio Sarri and was pushed further down the pecking order by the arrival of Gonzalo Higuain. 

Atletico Madrid confirmed the loan signing of Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata on Monday

The loan signing of Higuain from Juventus, after he ended a temporary spell at AC Milan, paved the way for Morata’s departure from the west London club.

Real Madrid in July 2017 for a then club-record fee of £60million on a five-year contract. 

Morata had signed a five-year deal with Chelsea when he joined from Real Madrid for a then club-record £60million.

The Spaniard sealed an 18-month loan deal with the club before undergoing a training session

As well as a loan fee, the deal with Atletico Madrid is also reported to include a £48.5million option to make it permanent. 

Morata struggled to establish himself at Stamford Bridge, playing 72 games and scoring 24 goals across one-and-a-half seasons. 

Since his Spain debut in 2014, Morata has earned 27 caps for his national team, netting 13 goals. 

Of his move, Morata said: ‘I’m very happy and proud to be here. I can’t wait to start training, meet my new team-mates and play.’ 

Morata failed to establish himself as the first-choice striker during his spell at Stamford Bridge