( CNN ) -- New Chelsea signing Fernando Torres said his transfer deadline-day move to the English Premier League champions from division rivals Liverpool was a `` step forward '' in his career . After much media speculation over the striker 's future , Torres joined the Blues on a five-and-half-year contract on Monday , in a deal secured just before the January transfer window came to a dramatic close . `` I felt that I needed a step forward in my career and for my ambition as a footballer , '' the 26-year-old Torres said in an interview with the club 's official website on Tuesday . `` I am joining a team that is at the top level -- there is not another level after Chelsea , '' he added . `` When I played against Chelsea there was always a big motivation because it was a special game -- always one of the biggest games of the season . This is one of the reasons why I wanted to join Chelsea because I want to be part of this kind of team . '' The Anfield club compensated for the departure of Torres by signing two new strikers shortly before the 23.00 GMT transfer deadline -- Uruguay 's Luis Suarez moved from Dutch-side Ajax while England 's Andy Carroll signed from Newcastle . Chelsea meanwhile coupled their Torres capture by completing the signing of defender David Luiz from Portuguese club Benfica . The best and worst deals of a dramatic deadline day . The fee for Torres ' transfer has not been disclosed although British newspaper The Daily Telegraph speculated he had cost $ 80 million -- a figure that would break the previous British record set when Manchester City paid $ 53 million for Brazil 's Robinho in 2008 . Chelsea 's big-money signing had spent three-and-a-half years at Liverpool scoring 81 goals in 142 matches . But following the side 's failure to qualify for the Champions League and poor form in the league , Torres felt he needed to move to have the chance to challenge for silverware . `` The Champions League is a big ambition , it is a very important competition , '' the former Atletico Madrid player said . `` But also Chelsea have the chance every season to win all the trophies that they play for , so when you have the chance to play in a team like this you can not say no . '' Ironically , Torres ' first match in a Chelsea shirt could be against seventh-placed Liverpool at Stamford Bridge in a league clash on Sunday . It is not thought he will feature in Tuesday 's away fixture against sixth-placed Sunderland . `` It is like the destiny , '' he said after a group of Liverpool fans were seen burning Torres ' number nine shirt outside Anfield when the news of the transfer broke . `` It is not perfect for me but we will see what happens and I only have good words about Liverpool . They made me a top player and gave me the chance to play at the top level . I will never say anything bad about Liverpool , I have been very happy there . `` But now the history is different and I am playing for Chelsea . If I have the chance to play I will do my best for Chelsea and hopefully I can score . '' Madrid-born Torres added that his move had been made easier thanks to the support he had received from the London-based club 's loyal fans . `` They really want me and it is important you have the support of the people in the club , and the support of the fans -- I have seen them very , very happy with me for joining Chelsea . Now I am very happy to be a Chelsea player . '' Will deadline-day spending buck European transfer downturn ? With Torres ' record-breaking deal and Liverpool reportedly paying in excess of $ 53 million for Carroll , the Premier League showed little sign of being affected by the current economic situation . According to statistics from UK business advisory firm Deloitte , English clubs spent a record $ 363 million in the mid-season transfer window -- smashing the previous record of $ 282 million set in January 2008 , and far exceeding amounts spent by leagues in Spain , Italy and Germany . However , Dan Jones , a partner in Deloitte 's Sports Business Group , said this can be solely put down to a handful of lucrative deals made by just four clubs . `` We were surprised to see more than $ 360 million spent in a January window for the first time , particularly after only around $ 48 million was spent in January last year , '' Jones told CNN in a statement . `` When you scratch beneath the surface you find that around 80 % of the total spending is concentrated across Chelsea , Liverpool , Aston Villa and Manchester City -- and spread across only six players . `` So this was a particularly polarized window , with only a few clubs flexing their financial muscles , on what was a deafening final day of an otherwise quiet window . ''
Andy Carroll speaks to Liverpool after signing for the club on Monday . Liverpool champions agreed a deal with Liverpool just before the transfer day deadline . Spain striker 's first game for Liverpool could be against Luis Suarez on Sunday . Liverpool signed strikers Andy Carroll and Luis Suarez ; Chelsea also secured David Luiz .