Premier League champions Chelsea have announced the loan signing of Monaco striker Radamel Falcao.

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The Colombian international will spend the forthcoming season at Stamford Bridge having been on loan at rivals Manchester United for the previous campaign.

Falcao, 29, only managed four goals during his spell at Old Trafford, with United deciding against making his move permanent. But Chelsea have now added him to their striking ranks and the player has already set his sights on trophy success.

“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,” he said.

Falcao, who failed to find the net for Colombia as they were knocked out at the quarter-final stage of the Copa America, has enjoyed success throughout Europe since initially moving to Porto in 2009.

He made his Champions League debut against Chelsea and also hit a hat-trick against the Blues in the European Super Cup during a goalladen spell at Atletico Madrid.

Falcao then made his way on to Monaco but his big-money move was less successful as he suffered a serious knee injury in 2014 and missed half the Ligue 1 season and the World Cup.

He moved to Manchester United as manager Louis van Gaal looked to assemble a side capable of once again challenging for Premier League success, joining other well-respected names such as Angel di Maria and Marcos Rojo in sealing deals at Old Trafford.

Despite an injury-hit season for fellow forward Robin van Persie, Falcao could not capitalise on the opportunities presented to him – scoring just four times in 26 Premier League outings for the Red Devils.

It took him until October to break his duck with a goal against Everton and he added to that with efforts against Aston Villa, Stoke and Leicester.

That was not enough to convince Van Gaal to sign Falcao permanently but Chelsea boss Jose Mourinho will be hoping he can help the forward find the kind of form that turned him into one of the most lethal strikers in the world and add to the goals of Diego Costa and Eden Hazard as the Blues look to build on their Premier League and League Cup success last season.

Falcao is now expected to link up with his new team-mates on a preseason tour of the United States, with a return to Old Trafford pencilled in for December 28.