Soccer-River Plate striker Falcao transferred to Porto

BUENOS AIRES, July 14 (Reuters) - River Plate's Colombian international Radamel Falcao Garcia is joining Portuguese champions Porto, the Argentine club said on Tuesday.

The striker, known by his middle name Falcao, is moving for 5.5 million euros ($7.69 million) on a five-year contract, River vice-president Domingo Diaz told a local radio station.

The 23-year-old, who has played 14 times for Colombia, is seen as replacing Argentina striker Lisandro Lopez who left Porto for France's Olympique Lyon last week.

"Porto is a great club that has won the local league for the last four years and a big player in the Champions League," said Falcao, who played 111 matches and scored 45 goals for River, helping them win the 2008 Clausura championship. (Reporting by Luis Ampuero; editing by Greg Stutchbury; to query or comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)