Fernando Torres to return to Atletico Madrid on loan until end of 2015-16

Fernando Torres is returning to the club he made his first-team debut with as a 17-year-old in 2001.

Torres, who joined AC Milan from Chelsea on a permanent basis Saturday, will arrive at Atleti on loan and remain with the reigning La Liga champions until the end of the 2015-16 campaign.

His return to the Vicente Calderon follows a disastrous stint at Milan, where he notched one goal in 10 appearances this season and was reduced to the confines of the bench after falling behind Jeremy Menez, who isn't even a natural striker, in the squad's pecking order.

The move, which is still subject to a medical examination, will become official Jan. 5, when the winter transfer window officially opens in Italy.

In exchange for Torres, Milan will receive fellow struggling forward Alessio Cerci, who joined Atleti over the summer and has played only 153 minutes in all competitions, scoring one goal.

Milan retweeted a tweet from Cerci on Monday in which he claimed he "can't wait to be in Milan for a medical and signing."

During Torres's first six seasons at Atleti, he made 244 appearances for the club, scoring 91 goals - numbers he's been unable to replicate in quite some time.