Wolverhampton Wanderers have signed Diego Costa on a free transfer, the Premier League club announced on Monday, with the former Chelsea and Atletico Madrid striker parachuted in amid an ongoing injury crisis.
Austrian striker Sasa Kalajdzic, Wolves’ new €18m ($18.24m) signing, suffered a knee ligament injury on his debut while Mexican striker Raul Jimenez was sidelined of a groin injury.
Costa, 33, was a free agent after leaving Brazilian side Atletico Mineiro in January and after passing a medical last week he signed a one-year contract with Wolves, subject to international authorization.
“We are absolutely delighted to welcome Diego Costa to Wolves and return to the Premier League,” Wolves chairman Jeff Shi said in a statement.
“A serial winner with a wealth of experience at the highest level, Diego will bring something unique to our dressing room and onto the pitch, and we look forward to his impact at Molineux and Compton this season.”
A striker was the need of the hour for Wolves, who have scored just three goals in six league games – the fewest among the 20 teams.
Costa established a reputation as a formidable number nine at Chelsea between 2014 and 2017, scoring 59 goals in all competitions and guiding the London club to two Premier League titles after signing for a £32million transfer fee ( $37.38 million).
He finished as the club’s top scorer in all three seasons before a fallout with then-manager Antonio Conte led to an early exit and return to Spanish side Atletico Madrid.
During his two spells at Atletico, he scored 83 times, winning two LaLiga titles and the Europa League.
Wolves are 14th in the league table with just one win and next host Manchester City on Saturday.
($1 = 0.9867 euros)($1 = 0.8562 pounds)