Radamel Falcao will next season play for French side AS Monaco, which reportedly paid his current team, Atletico Madrid, $77 million for Colombia’s top striker.
The transfer marks the end of two highly successful years for Falcao in the Spanish capital; the Colombian marked the goal that secured his team’s third position in the Spanish league and consequently secured Atletico’s qualification for the Champions League.
MORE: Falcao shoots Atletico Madrid to Champion’s League
According to UK newspaper the Sunday Times, the deal with Monaco will annually put more than $12.5 million in Falcao’s pocket.
The one-year contract allows Falcao next year to return to Spain as a player of Real Madrid, who has a deal with city rivals Atletico not to directly buy out players.
The move of Monaco owner Dmitry Evgenevich Rybolovlev to purchase Colombia’s most effective striker came as English team Chelsea also showed interest in purchasing Falcao, widely considered one of the best forwards in soccer today.