Diego Costa's time at Chelsea is almost over... Sportsmail ranks his highs and lows during his three-year stay at Stamford Bridge

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Diego Costa arrived at Chelsea with a bang in the summer of 2014 and from that point drama was never far away from the striker.

Whether it was firing the Blues towards two league titles, or making an enemy of whoever was within a five-yard radius (not just limited to the opposition), his time at Stamford Bridge was eventful from start to finish.

With Atletico Madrid having agreed a £57.5million fee to bring him back to the Spanish capital, having sold him for £32m, Sportsmail looks at the many highs and lows of his Stamford Bridge career.

An deal has been struck between Chelsea and Atletico Madrid for the sale of Diego Costa

2014-15

HIGH - Scoring on debut and netting maiden hat-trick

Costa wasted no time in getting off the mark for Chelsea, scoring just 17 minutes into his debut at Burnley in a 3-1 victory.

He would then score in his next three Premier League games including a hat-trick in a 4-2 home win over Swansea City, with Costa named Premier League player of the month for August.

Costa scored just 17 minutes into his Chelsea debut at Burnley in a 3-1 victory over Burnley

The goal would go on to mark a scoring spree for Costa, who fast established a reputation

LOW - Emre Can stamp leads to three-match ban

While many overseas players can struggle to adapt to the physicality of the Premier League, Costa seemed to embrace it... a little too much at times.

His first high-profile brush with the opposition occurred during a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool at Stamford Bridge, with a stamp on Emre Can after a battle for the ball leading to a three-match ban from the FA.

HIGH - Putting Tottenham to the sword in League Cup final

Costa's goals throughout his maiden campaign were already earning him plaudits from inside and outside the club - and he quickly became a fan favourite.

Scoring in a 2-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur in the League Cup final certainly boosted his popularity among the Stamford Bridge faithful and earned him his first medal as a Chelsea player.

The striker's first high brush with an opponent came with Liverpool's Emre Can in January 2015

The duo clashed after Costa was seen to stamp on the leg of the German midfielder

HIGH - Winning the Premier League and being named in PFA team of the Year 

Having formed an almost telepathic understanding with Cesc Fabregas, Costa's goals were usually accompanied by an assist from his international team-mate, and his 20 strikes for the season were enough to win Chelsea their first league title in five years, and his place in the PFA Team of the Year.

2015-16

LOW - Another three-match ban after clash with Arsenal defence

By September, Chelsea's title defence already looked in tatters - not helped by Costa's goals drying up. The striker did take the headlines in a rare win over Arsenal but for all the wrong reasons.

Having put his hands to the face of Laurent Koscielny and also striking the centre-back with flailing arm, the Spaniard was hit with another three-match ban by the FA.

In the aftermath of the incident his provocative antics also led to Gabriel being sent off for the Gunners.

LOW - Continuing feud with Martin Skrtel

Costa and Skrtel had previous from earlier meetings - including the past season's League Cup semi-final and a World Cup qualifier between Spain and Slovakia.

In a Stamford Bridge meeting between Chelsea and Liverpool at the end of October the striker again risked another ban after appearing to stamp on the defender's chest.

The incident was missed by the referee in the Blues' 3-1 defeat, but despite wide condemnation for the act he escaped unpunished... all just four days after a brush with a Stoke City steward as well.

He had previous with Martin Skrtel from earlier meetings and continued their battle in England

LOW - Touchline tantrum at Tottenham

A month later and Costa didn't even have to be on the pitch to steal the headlines. In fairness there wasn't much playing action at White Hart Lane to warrant attention as Chelsea stuttered to a 0-0 draw at Tottenham Hotspur.

But Costa's fracturing relationship with under-pressure boss Jose Mourinho got its first public airing after the striker threw his bib up in the air from the dugout in frustration after realising he wasn't going to be used as a substitute.

Without even getting on the pitch at Tottenham Costa caused a stir with Jose Mourinho

A season later and Costa was at it again with Spurs, this time involved in an on-field bust up

LOW - Training ground bust up with Oscar

Even with Mourinho gone, Costa continued to make enemies at Stamford Bridge. Just four goals in all competitions that season under the Portuguese led to him being booed by fans following his departure.

The Spaniard even came to blows with team-mates as a training ground bust up with Oscar in January came as a result of the duo making over zealous challenges on each other at Cobham.

HIGH - Return to form under Hiddink

After a terrible first half of the season in front of goal, Costa came alive from Boxing Day, netting 11 goals in his next 15 games under interim manager Guus Hiddink.

It helped win back the Blues supporters still angry over Mourinho's bitter departure, even if the final goal in the run came against Paris Saint-Germain in a last-16 Champions League elimination. The bad times would soon return though...

Costa returned to form under interim manager Guus Hiddink after Jose Mourinho's departure

LOW - Collecting only Chelsea red card at Everton

...because just over a week later Chelsea were knocked out of another competition, following a 2-0 FA Cup loss at Everton in the quarter-finals.

Costa was sent off in a poor performance on Merseyside having clashed with Gareth Barry and thrusted his face into the neck of the Everton midfielder. The striker's dissent after being shown a red card would lead to a three-match ban and a £20,000 fine.

2016-17

HIGH - Player of the Month again and back among the goals 

Chelsea's title surge may have only started after a shift to the 3-4-3 formation in October under Antonio Conte, but Costa was on form from the beginning of the campaign.

The striker netted five goals from as many games at the start of the season and continued to chip away thereafter before picking up Player of the Month for November.

He fell out with current Chelsea boss Antonio Conte after a move to China collapsed

LOW - Fall out with Conte and proposed China move

Despite Costa's strong form he had a bust-up with Conte in January and was dropped.

The breakdown between player and manager was so serious that Costa came close to securing a money-spinning move to the Chinese Super League, only for it to collapse. On his return to the side, he of course scored against Hull in a 2-0 win.

HIGH - Winning Premier League for a second time

Like in his first Premier League season, Costa scored 20 times to fire Chelsea towards a second league title in three years.

During the campaign Costa hit his 50th goal for the club in just 85 games - a record only bettered by Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink who took one game fewer.

Costa was an instrumental part as Chelsea surged to the title in Conte's first season

The charismatic star stamped his personality across the club and was well liked by supporters

LOW - Dumped by text

A 2-1 FA Cup final defeat by Arsenal, in which Costa scored, saw Chelsea's season end on a sour note but despite being back to his best his Blues career was over.

The rift between the striker and Conte had clearly not fully healed and the 28-year-old was informed by a controversial text message from his manager that he would not feature in the Italian's plans for the upcoming campaign.

Since then Costa has been spending much of his time in his native Brazil, where he gave an explosive interview to Sportsmail and claimed the club had treated him like a criminal.

Costa invited Sportsmail into his family home for an exclusive interview last month

Costa spoke exclusively to Sportsmail's Adam Crafton about his future in football