Colombia striker Jackson Martinez to join Atletico Madrid

Vina Del Mar: Colombia striker Jackson Martinez is joining Atletico Madrid from Porto.

"It’s done, I can confirm that everything’s ready,” Martinez told reporters after Colombia lost on penalties to Argentina in the Copa America quarter-finals on Friday.

“For now I’ll go and enjoy time with my family, then I’ll travel to Spain to join my new club,” the 28-year-old said.

“I’m really excited about this move to Atletico Madrid, I take it as a new challenge in my career and hope things work out well for me there.”

Coach Diego Simeone’s Atletico side were short of a striker after Croatian Mario Mandzukic moved to Juventus.

"I’ve evolved a lot as a forward,” Martinez said. “I’m still growing and learning and will surely be able to improve a lot of things in my game in a league like Spain’s.”

Martinez had signed a contract with Porto until the end of the 2016-17 season but Spanish sports daily As reported this week that Atletico had agreed to pay his buyout clause worth 35 million euros ($39.1 million).

Martinez graduated from the Independiente Medellin youth academy to the first team before joining Mexico`s Chiapas in January 2010 and moving to Porto in 2012.

A versatile player who is adept at shooting with either foot and is strong in the air, he has been the leading scorer in Portugal`s top flight in each of his three seasons, netting 26 goals in 2012-13, 20 in 2013-14 and 21 in 2014-15.