MADRID, July 6 (Xinhua) -- Chelsea striker Alvaro Morata is set to join Atletico Madrid after his 18-month loan expires at the end of next season, the Spanish club confirmed on its website.
Atletico said in a statement on the club's website: "The Spanish striker will play at our club on loan this season, as was agreed when he joined Atletico in the January transfer window, and the move will become permanent at the beginning of the 2020-2021 season."
Morata originally signed for Chelsea on a five-year deal in July 2017 after signing from Real Madrid for a Chelsea club record signing of 60 million pounds.
During his spell at the Premier League club he made 74 appearances, scoring 24 goals, however was criticized by Chelsea fans not being clinical enough in front of goal.
Morata was deemed surplus to requirements by Chelsea manager Maurizio Sarri last season and was sent on loan to the Spanish side during the January transfer window.
During his time in the Spanish capital, the striker has notched six goals in 17 games and the move will see the former Juventus and Real Madrid player return to the club where he started as a youth.
"Happy it's official," Morata told fans on social media.
Atletico have had a busy transfer window with the club securing the services of Hector Herrera and Felipe from Portuguese side Porto, as well as the club record, 126 million Euro signing of Joao Felix from Benfica - the fifth most expensive of all time.
