Fernando Torres

Fernando Torres became Liverpool's record signing on July 4, 2007.

The striker had spent the previous 12 years at Atletico Madrid, the club he supported as a boy.
The Spanish giants snapped him up at the age of 11 after he netted 55 goals in his first season at amateur side Rayo 13.

He signed his first professional contract in 1999 but he had to wait until May 27, 2001 to make his debut against Leganes.

Still, at 17 years and 68 days, he was Atletico's youngest ever player. Within a week he'd scored his first goal in a match against Albacete.

Torres was top scorer and player of the tournament in the 2001 European Under-16 Championships and 2002 European Under-19 Championships, both of which Spain won. The frontman bagged 13 goals during his first season in the Spanish top flight, earning him a first under-21 cap for his country.

The youngster made his full debut in a friendly with Portugal on September 6, 2003. The following April he scored his first international goal against Italy.

The player nicknamed El Nino (The Kid) because of his youthful appearance was selected for the 2006 World Cup in Germany, where he scored three goals.
The following year, in May 2007, Torres hit the headlines when he revealed the phrase 'You'll Never Walk Alone' on the inside of his captain's armband during a match between Atletico and Real Sociedad. Two months of speculation and paper talk ensued before the striker finally was unveiled at Melwood.

He left Atletico with a record of 82 goals in 214 league appearances.