Juan Mata has completed his £37.1m move from Chelsea to Manchester United in a record transfer deal for the reigning Premier League champions. The Spain midfielder had a medical on Saturday and has signed a contract, understood to run until summer 2018. Mata, 25, is likely to make his debut at home against Cardiff on Tuesday. The time has come for a new challenge, he said. I am excited at the chance I have to be part of the next phase in the clubs history. He added: Chelsea is a top club and I have many friends there but you cannot turn down the chance to join Manchester United. I look forward to helping the manager and the team be successful in the coming years. Mata, capped 32 times by Spain, will be unveiled at a news conference on Monday at 13:30 GMT. He becomes manager David Moyess second high-profile signing, following the arrival in September of Evertons Marouane Fellaini for £27.5m. The deal also eclipses Uniteds previous record signing - Dimitar Berbatov from Tottenham in 2008 - by £6.35m. Mata, who joined Chelsea from Valencia for £23.5m in August 2011, has been Chelseas player of the year in both full seasons he was at Stamford Bridge. He scored 32 goals for the Blues and made more than 130 appearances but has failed to command a regular starting place under Jose Mourinho, who returned to Chelsea last summer for a second spell as manager. Juan is one of the finest playmakers in the game today and its a real pleasure to have secured his signature, said Moyes. Hes been instrumental in Chelseas recent success, with a notable 28 assists and 32 goals in his last two Premier League seasons. I have been impressed with the excitement he has shown to be part of the new Manchester United. I know our fans have admired Juan for some time now - he has always played well against us - and I know they will be delighted to see him in the red of United, starting on Tuesday. Mourinho praised Matas contribution at Stamford Bridge, having helped Chelsea to win the Champions League, FA Cup and Europa League. I and everyone at Chelsea have massive respect for Juan and his big talent, and when he told us of his wish to move on because he wanted to play more, we did not want to deny him this opportunity, said the Portuguese. We want him to be successful in his career and as well as that, this transfer makes huge financial sense to us at Chelsea. We are pleased Juan will stay in England - even with a rival club. He is happy in this country and it is good the Premier League retains such a talented player. Juan moves with our full blessing and I can speak on behalf of everyone at the club in thanking him for his fantastic service, and wishing him well for his future.
Posted on: Sun, 26 Jan 2014 03:27:48 +0000
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