LONDON: Fernando Torres became the third most expensive player in football history when he joined Chelsea for a reported 50 million pounds ($79.5 million) from Liverpool Monday. The Spain striker signed a 5½-year contract at Chelsea in a move described by Liverpool as a British record. The fee is only bettered by Real Madrid's purchases of Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo and Brazil playmaker Kaka in 2009. It is a similar figure to that paid to Inter Milan by Barcelona for Zlatan Ibrahimovic in 2009, a deal that sent Samuel Eto'o to the Italian team. Manchester City forward Carlos Tevez was widely recognized as being the previous most expensive signing within British football after moving from Manchester United for about 47 million pounds in 2009. Torres spent 3½ years at Liverpool, scoring 81 goals, but grew frustrated as the 18-time league champions struggled to keep pace with England's leading clubs. “I am very happy with my transfer to Chelsea and I am looking forward very much to helping my new teammates this season and for many years to come,” Torres said. “Having played against Chelsea many times since coming to England, and in some very big games I will never forget, I know there are many great players here and I will work hard to win a place in the team. “I hope I can score some important goals for the supporters to enjoy this season.” Torres' first game for Chelsea could be against Liverpool in the Premier League at Stamford Bridge Sunday, unless he features at Sunderland Tuesday. It will be tough for Chelsea to retain its Premier League title this season – the team is 10 points behind unbeaten leader Man United with 15 games remaining – but the Blues are in the last 16 of the Champions League and are looking to win the competition for the first time. “It's my dream to win the Champions League and I'm sure I can, playing for Chelsea,” said Torres, who is available to play in the competition because Liverpool only qualified for this season's Europa League. “I think all my teammates share that dream with me and hopefully we can. This is the target for every footballer – to try to play for one of the top clubs in the world and I can do it now. I have to be very, very happy, as I am.” Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck said Torres was “one of the best players in the world with his peak years ahead of him.” “This is a very significant day for Chelsea,” Buck said. “We have long admired the talents of a player who is a proven goal-scorer in English football, and Fernando's arrival is a sign of our continuing high ambitions. I hope every Chelsea fan is as excited as I am with this news.” Liverpool replaced Torres by breaking the club's transfer record twice in the space of a few hours, first signing Luis Suarez from Ajax for £26.5 million ($36 million) and then Andy Carroll from Newcastle for a reported 35 million pounds ($56 million). In the end, total spending by English Premier League clubs approached 200 million pounds (321 million dollars) compared to 29 million pounds (46 million dollars) last January as the transfer market went wild. Torres, who had 2½ years left on his contract at Liverpool, has regained some form over the last few weeks after struggling early in the season as he recovered from a groin injury. Three of his nine goals this season have come in the past four games. Overall, he scored 81 goals in 142 games for Liverpool. UEFA warns big spenders In Switzerland, big-spending clubs were warned by UEFA Tuesday that the frenzy of activity in the January transfer window could affect their ability to meet new financial rules aimed at making them live within their means. “There is no doubt that transfers made now will impact on the break-even results of the financial years ending 2012 and 2013 — the first financial years to be assessed under the break-even rule,” said European soccer's governing body. “The clubs know the rules and also know that UEFA is fully committed to implementing them with rigor,” it added in a statement posted on its website. UEFA, worried about the health of club finances, introduced its Financial Fair Play plan last year to try and stop clubs spending more than their generated revenue. Clubs who fail to comply could be barred from European club competition from the 2014
