BREAKING: Chelsea and Atletico agree Costa deal

Costa closes in on a return to Simeone's team.

Diego Costa’s long-awaited return to Atletico Madrid is about to be completed, following months of stand-offs and heated debate due to a controversial clash with Conte back in June.

Chelsea’s Italian manager told the striker he was no longer needed by the Blues, and Costa has not featured for Chelsea since their FA Cup final defeat back in May.

In the summer, Atletico Madrid and Chelsea held arduous negotiations over the Brazilian striker, who all the while remained in exile in his hometown of Lagarto as he refused to report back to training in London.

With the transfer window closed, Chelsea have today announced via their official Twitter account that a deal has been reached. Costa, who joined Chelsea from Atletico in 2014 for £32 million, will return to Madrid for a reported fee of £53 million plus bonuses to be paid to the Blues.

Reports in Spain have also suggested that the centre-forward is expected to attend a medical in Madrid on Thursday before being unveiled as an Atletico player in the coming days.

Simeone’s side are currently serving a transfer embargo, meaning the 28-year-old will be unable to play for his new team until January. The saga is about to come to an end and Costa has been granted his one wish: to return home.