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Manchester United have confirmed that they have signed Spanish midfielder Juan Mata for a reported £37.1 million on a 4 and a half year deal.
This is Manchester United’s record transfer fee eclipsing the previous amount they paid for Bulgarian striker Dimitar Berbatov.
The Spaniard’s reported wages are said to be in the region of £150, 000 per week which is more than double of the £70, 000 he was earning at Chelsea.
Earlier today, he arrived at Manchester United’s AON training complex to undergo a medical.
Mata, 25, had been playing second fiddle to Brazilian play-maker Oscar and has spent most of the time on the bench at Chelsea.
The Spanish midfielder had begun his career at Oviedo, before moving to Real Madrid and then Valencia and then joining Chelsea on 21 August, 2011 for £23.5 million.
In his 135 appearances for the club, Mata has scored 33 times and was voted Chelsea’s Player of the Season for both 2011-12 and 2012-13.
In a statement, he said: “I am thrilled to be joining United. I have enjoyed some very happy years at Chelsea but the time has come for a new challenge. United is the perfect place for me and I am excited at the chance I have to be part of the next phase in the club’s history.
“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.”
David Moyes said: “Juan is one of the finest playmakers in the game today and it’s a real pleasure to have secured his signature. He’s been instrumental in Chelsea’s 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.”
Mata earlier left a message for the Chelsea fans.
His squad number hasn’t been announced by the club but he is a favourite to land the legendary No. 7 shirt.
