Torres says he is joining one of the world’s top clubs

LONDON: Fernando Torres joined Chelsea for a record £50mil – then had a pop at Liverpool.

The Spain international sealed his deal minutes before the transfer window slammed shut and then, in an obvious dig at Liverpool and boss Kenny Dalglish who had earlier attacked him, he said he was leaving for a top club.

The striker said: “The target for every player is to play for one of the tops clubs in the world and I can do it now, so I’m very happy.”

Torres, 26, had earlier passed a medical and finalised his British record deal with just minutes to spare before the 11pm deadline.

His £50mil fee surpassed that set earlier in the day by Liverpool when they signed Andy Carroll for £35mil, which in turn had beaten Manchester City’s £32.5mil capture of Robinho in 2008.

Torres’ departure will anger Liverpool fans, who idolised him during his 3½ seasons at Anfield.

Reds boss Dalglish also hit out at Torres and insisted no player was bigger than the club itself.

Dalglish said: “Players leave the club and players come in, though more have come into this club than gone. It’s no different now. People move on.

“The most important thing is the club. More important and bigger than any individual, no matter who has been through it previously and who will in the future.

“I will never forget that and anyone who does is being a wee bit stupid and irresponsible.”

However, Torres appears to have rubbed Liverpool’s noses in it by insisting he is joining a bigger club than the five-time European champions.

“It has been two hard days for me, leaving Liverpool, but I’m a Chelsea player and I’m happy.

“It is one of the biggest steps forward in my career. It is a great club with a great responsibility. People will be expecting big things for me but I am ready for the challenge.

“It is the kind of team I like to play against because that motivates me and the kind of team I want to play for. It is always very tough to play against a team like Chelsea.

“They are one of the best teams in Europe and always fighting for everything – and that is a step forward.”

Meanwhile, Liverpool have completed their deal to sign Uruguay striker Luis Suarez from Ajax for a fee rising to £22.6mil on Monday.

Suarez agreed a five-and-half-year contract with the Reds after passing a medical just hours before the January transfer window closed.

The 24-year-old will wear the iconic Liverpool number seven shirt made famous by the likes of current Reds boss Kenny Dalglish, Kevin Keegan and Peter Beardsley.

“Luis Suarez has today completed his transfer from Ajax to Liverpool FC and signed a five and a half-year-deal that will keep him at Anfield until 2016,” a statement on Liverpool’s website confirmed. — Agencies

BRITISH RECORD TRANSFER

Here is a list of the top 10 British deals:

FERNANDO TORRES (Liverpool to Chelsea) £50mil.

ANDY CARROLL (Newcastle to Liverpool) £35mil.

ROBINHO (Real Madrid to Man City) £32.5mil.

ANDRIY SHEVCHENKO (AC Milan to Chelsea) £30.8mil.

DIMITAR BERBATOV (Tottenham to Man United) £30.75mil.

RIO FERDINAND (Leeds to Man United) £29.1mil.

JUAN SEBASTIAN VERON (Lazio to Man United) £28.1mil.

WAYNE ROONEY (Everton to Man United) £27mil.

EDIN DZEKO (Wolfsburg to Man City) £27mil.

JAMES MILNER (Aston Villa to Man City) £26mil.