Costa officially rejoins Atletico after signing new contract
Diego Costa's second stint at Atletico Madrid has officially begun.
The combative Spanish international signed a contract and passed the necessary physical tests to rejoin Los Rojiblancos, the club announced Tuesday, nearly a week after Chelsea sanctioned the sale of the player for a reported €55 million.
Atletico cannot register Costa until January, when the club's transfer ban is set to expire. He will, however, have the opportunity to participate in full training.
Costa will wear the No. 18 this time. His usual No. 19 kit currently belongs to defender Lucas Hernandez.
"I'm very happy to return home. I've always said it: Atletico is my home. I'm very, very happy," he said. "I'm looking forward to start contributing. I'm going to give my all for the team, as I always try to do."
Costa left Atletico for Chelsea in 2014 and contributed to a pair of Premier League-winning campaigns during his time in west London, scoring 59 goals in 120 appearances.
His relationship with Chelsea manager Antonio Conte ultimately became frayed in January, and he later found himself in exile during the summer months. Chelsea fined Costa several weeks' wages as he went into hiding in his native Brazil.
All along, he campaigned for a move back to Atletico. And he finally got it.