COSTA NAMED IN CHELSEA'S 25-MAN SQUAD FOR THE PREMIER LEAGUE SEASON.

Diego Costa has been registered in Chelsea's 25-man squad for the Premier League season.

The striker had appeared set to leave Stamford Bridge this summer with a return to his boyhood club, Atletico Madrid, touted.

But a switch was not completed and he appears set for at least another four months in London.

Antonio Conte has named Costa in the squad for the season, but it remains to be seen whether he will pull on the blue shirt again.

Chelsea failed to complete transfers for Fernando Llorente and Ross Barkley on Deadline Day, leaving Conte short of options.

The row between Costa and Conte has become public since they fell out at the start of the summer.

Spain international Costa has been based in his homeland of Brazil and made no secret about his desire to join Atletico, even though he would not be able to be registered there until January.

He insisted that he had no plans to return to Chelsea or play for the club again after accusing them of treating him like a “criminal.”

Boss Conte laughed off the claims, but the Blues are fuming with the Spaniard and owner Roman Abramovich is especially determined to make him pay for defying the club with his rebellious behaviour.

They want the controversial striker back, fit and in condition to be selected — in line with the terms of his contract.


THE FULL SQUAD WITH THEIR DATE OF BIRTH.

Goalkeepers:
1 Willy Caballero Argentina 28/09/1981
13 Thibaut Courtois Belgium 11/05/1992
37 Eduardo Portugal 19/09/1982.

Defenders:
28 Azpilicueta Spain 28/08/1989
38 Abdul Rahman Baba Ghana 02/07/1994
24 Gary Cahill England 19/12/1985
27 Andreas Christensen Denmark 10/04/1996
30 David Luiz Brazil 22/04/1987
2 Antonio Rüdiger Germany 03/03/1993
21 Davide Zappacosta Italy 11/06/1992.

Midfielders:
14 Tiemoué Bakayoko France 17/08/1994
4 Cesc Fàbregas Spain 04/05/1987
6 Danny Drinkwater England 05/03/1990
10 Eden Hazard Belgium 07/01/1991
7 N'Golo Kanté France 29/03/1991
16 Kenedy Brazil 08/02/1996
3 Marcos Alonso Spain 28/12/1990
15 Victor Moses Nigeria 12/12/1990
36 Kyle Scott England 12/12/1997.

Forwards:
23 Michy Batshuayi Belgium 02/10/1993
19 Diego Costa Spain 07/10/1988
9 Morata Spain 23/10/1992
17 Charly Musonda Belgium 15/10/1996
11 Pedro Spain 28/07/1987
22 Willian Brazil 09/08/1988