Chelsea rope in Colombian striker Falcao on loan

English Premier League football club Chelsea on Friday signed Colombian striker Radamel Falcao for a season on loan from French club Monaco.

“I am very happy to be joining Chelsea and can’t wait to start training and help with our aim of retaining the league title and being successful in Europe,” Falcao told the club’s official website.

The 29-year-old, who will link up with Jose Mourinho’s squad for the 2015/16 campaign has built a reputation as one of Europe’s most dreaded strikers, having started his career as a teenager in his homeland before joining Argentine giants River Plate in 2001. Eight years later, having established himself as one of South America’s top scorers, Falcao arrived in Europe at Porto, where he made his Champions League debut against Chelsea.

He soon began finding the net regularly as he lifted successive Europa League titles, first with Portuguese club Porto and the second after joining Spanish side Atletico Madrid in 2011.  The striker then left Atletico for French Monaco in 2013.  He joined English outfit Manchester United on loan last season.