Madrid:  Atletico Madrid striker Fernando Torres was considered by fans as the best January transfer signing by clubs in a poll conducted by Europe's football governing body UEFA on their website.

Striker Fernando Torres

UEFA said 50 million fans voted before the results were released Wednesday, reports marca.com.

The former Chelsea targetman beat close competitions from Ivorian strikers Wilfried Bony and Seydou Doumbia, Xherdan Shaqiri of Switzerland and Germany’s André Schurrle, who were part of January's top five signings. They joined Manchester City, AS Roma, Inter Milan and VfL Wolfsburg respectively.

Seven and a half years earlier, the 30-year-old Torres left the boyhood club Atletico for English club Liverpool. He later joined Chelsea.

Torres has thus far scored three goals for Atletico since his return with two against cross-city rivals Real Madrid and one against FC Barcelona.