Diego Costa The Beast

Fresh from an outstanding season in Spain, where his 36 goals had propelled Atlético Madrid to a first La Liga title since 1996 and to within seconds of a maiden Champions League crown, Diego Costa arrived at Stamford Bridge for £32 million. Brazilian by birth, Costa had caused an enormous wave of controversy in his homeland after opting to take Spanish citizenship and a subsequent place in Spain’s squad over the opportunity to represent the Seleção in a home World Cup in 2014. An early exit for Spain ensued but, undeterred, Costa arrived in the English capital tasked by manager Jose Mourinho with scoring the goals that had eluded many of his predecessors the previous season. And with a Premier League record of seven goals in his first four starts he took to the physical nature of England’s top division with typical aplomb. Costa began his nomadic rise to the top via the lower echelons of Portuguese and Spanish football, before establishing himself as a force under Diego Simeone’s rejuvenated Atléti. Affectionately nicknamed "El Cholo" (the Beast), his pace, power, aggression and deadly finishing have swiftly seen him become a crowd favorite at the Bridge.

Chris Davies is the author of Deadly Dimitar and King Carra.