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MANCHESTER, England -- Manchester United smashed the clubs transfer record to sign Juan Mata from Chelsea for 37.1 million pounds ($61.2 million) on Saturday, giving the beleaguered English Premier League champions a major lift. The Spain midfielder was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea after losing his place in the team since Jose Mourinhos return as manager last summer. The move, which is the most high-profile yet in Europes January transfer window, will guarantee Mata is back playing regular football ahead of the World Cup in Brazil. It is also a statement of intent from United amid a tough period for new manager David Moyes, whose team is seventh in the Premier League and struggling to qualify for the lucrative Champions League. "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 clubs history," said the 25-year-old Mata, who was flown to Manchester by helicopter on Saturday so he could undergo his medical examination and agree on personal terms. "Chelsea is a top club and I have many friends there but you cannot turn down the chance to join Manchester United." Mata was Chelseas player of the year for the last two seasons but has spent most of the 2013-14 campaign on the substitutes bench, with Mourinho deciding to make Brazil international Oscar his No. 1 playmaker. Mourinho granted Matas request to leave Stamford Bridge in light of Uniteds interest and having already found a virtual replacement in Egypt winger Mohamed Salah, who is close to joining from Swiss team Basel. "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," Mourinho said. "We want him to be successful in his career and as well as that, this transfer makes huge financial sense to us at Chelsea." Moyes has made a decisive move in the transfer market after being criticized for his sluggish dealings in the off-season, when United missed out on the clubs primary targets and brought in only one player -- Marouane Fellaini -- in the final minutes of deadline day. Fellaini has so far been a major disappointment and is out injured. Matas arrival will create a buzz around Old Trafford and excite fans who have seen United slip 14 points behind leader Arsenal in the Premier League, be eliminated from the FA Cup at the first hurdle and, most recently, lose to Sunderland in the League Cup semifinals. Last season, United romped to the league title by 11 points under Alex Ferguson. Once Moyes gets strikers Robin van Persie and Wayne Rooney back fit, their combination with Mata and talented young winger Adnan Januzaj should ensure they seriously challenge Liverpool, Tottenham and Everton for the fourth and final Champions League spot. United is six points behind fourth-place Liverpool. "Juan is one of the finest playmakers in the game today and its a real pleasure to have secured his signature," Moyes said. Moyes confirmed Mata will make his debut in the league game against Cardiff at Old Trafford on Tuesday, although he may take time to return to top form after being underused at Chelsea in recent months. Mata played 135 times for Chelsea following his move from Spanish team Valencia in 2011. "I have enjoyed some very happy years at Chelsea," Mata said, "but the time has come for a new challenge." Matas transfer fee eclipses the figure United spent on Dimitar Berbatov, who joined for 30.7 million pounds from Tottenham in 2008. Wholesale Raptors Jerseys . The Detroit Tigers closer blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning Wednesday night against the Dodgers. C.J. Miles Jersey . The Canadian defensive tackle suffered the injury on Monday and had tests done on Tuesday. He was a potential starter on the defensive line but head coach Mike OShea said he wasnt even thinking about the ratio when he got the news. http://www.cheapraptorsjerseys.com/?tag=...eira-jersey.com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings take aim at an eighth straight victory on Monday night as they wrap up a road trip versus the Calgary Flames. Cheap Swingman Raptors Jerseys . Seth Smith hit a towering drive for a tying homer leading off the eighth and Chris Denorfia singled home two runs to give the Padres a 3-1 victory against the rival Dodgers in baseballs North American opener Sunday night. Cheap Raptors Jerseys Authentic . New York then missed its next six shots and scored only two points the rest of the night. The Los Angeles Clippers defence and the Knicks general ineptitude both played a role in the unsurprising finish to a meeting of two teams headed in opposite directions.INDEPENDENCE, Ohio -- The risk the Cavaliers took on Andrew Bynum paid off after all. Luol Deng is coming to Cleveland. The Cavs acquired Deng, a two-time All-Star small forward, from the Chicago Bulls early Tuesday for Bynum, the enigmatic centre who was signed during the summer and recently dismissed from the team for detrimental conduct. The Bulls are expected to release Bynum, who has chronically bad knees and has played just 24 games the past two seasons. Bynum is due another $6 million on the unique two-year, $24 million contract he signed with Cleveland in July, but the Bulls wont have to pay him if hes released by Tuesday afternoon. With their season uprooted by Derrick Roses injury, the Bulls can save salary-cap space by cutting Bynum. Cleveland also gave Chicago a first-round pick from Sacramento, two second-round selections and gave Chicago the right to swap first-round choices in 2015 if the Cavs are not in the lottery. Cavaliers owner Dan Gilbert vowed the team would never be in the lottery again after it picked first last year. But at just 11-23, the Cavs are on their way to missing the post-season again. Deng, though, could prevent that. The 10-year veteran brings scoring, defence and leadership to a young Cavs team that never adjusted to Bynum and has been beset by other personality issues in their locker room..dddddddddddd. General manager Chris Grant was reportedly close to sending Bynum to the Los Angeles Lakers, who need to cut cap space to avoid paying the luxury tax. Unable to strike a deal with the Lakers, Grant turned to the Bulls and wound up with Deng, who is averaging 19 points and 6.9 rebounds. Deng did not receive a contract extension during the off-season and is an unrestricted free agent after this season. But the Cavs hold his Bird Rights and can offer him more money than anyone else. Bynums exit ends a strange sage in Cleveland for the former All-Star, who played seven seasons with the Lakers before he was traded to Philadelphia in 2020. He never played one second for the Sixers and the Cavs were the only team willing to take him on as a free agent. Bynum worked himself back into shape and was on the floor opening night, months earlier than most expected. He showed flashes of being a dominant post player again, but Bynum, who earlier this season said he had lost the joy to play, became increasingly difficult and the Cavs banned him from all team activities on Dec. 28. Although he was not around the team, Bynums peculiar situation hovered over the Cavs, who didnt need any more distractions as they try to re-establish themselves as a relevant team under Mike Brown. The deal for Deng can help them get back on track. ' ' '