Shevchenko returns to AC Milan

Andriy Shevchenko's Chelsea nightmare finally appeared to be over after the Ukrainian striker arrived in Italy to complete a switch back to AC Milan.

The Ukraine striker endured two disappointing years at Stamford Bridge following a £30 million move from Milan and has likened his return to winning the Champions League - a prize he missed out on with Chelsea in last season's final.

He said: "I'm happy. I have hoped for a return for a while and yesterday I began to believe that this deal could end well.

"For me it is as if I've won the Champions League.

"There were some complications, but now that everything is resolved I am really happy."

Chelsea and Milan have not disclosed details of the deal but reports earlier in the week suggested Shevchenko was set to move on a season-long loan.

The former European footballer of the year scored just four league goals in the 2006-07 campaign and five last season as injuries and form undermined his impact in west London.

Shevchenko left Milan as the club's second-most prolific goalscorer of all-time, having scored 127 goals in 208 games during a seven-year spell and he will now be hoping to close in on Gunnar Nordahl's 210-goal tally.

Immediately after the deal was announced, Milan vice-president Adriano Galliani happily welcomed the striker "home".

"After a series of frantic phone calls during the day today, we have reached an agreement with Chelsea," he said.

"Andriy returns to the Rossoneri, tomorrow he will be in Milan, Monday he will undergo a medical, then he will sign a contract and from Tuesday he will be available to Carlo Ancelotti.

"We succeeded in bringing home the player who in the last 50 years has scored the most goals in our shirt.

"President (Silvio) Berlusconi and I am happy, as is our coach and I believe also our players.

"Andriy made a mistake in leaving and I believe that in the past two years he has realised that this is his home.

"Now he has made his financial sacrifices but at this point the only thing that matters is that he returns to us."

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