Manchester United have signed Serbian midfielder Nemanja Matic from Premier League champions Chelsea on a three-year contract.
Nemanja Matic Photo: Photosport
Financial terms of the deal have not been disclosed, but British media reported that United paid between $70 and $88 million to reunite the 28-year-old midfielder with manager Jose Mourinho.
"Nemanja is a Manchester United player and a Jose Mourinho player. He represents everything we want in a footballer; loyalty, consistency, ambition, team player," Mourinho said in a statement.
"I am sure our players and supporters will love him. A big welcome to our new number 31."
Jose Mourinho at Old Trafford Photo: AFP
Mourinho signed Matic when he was in charge of Chelsea in 2014. Matic, who originally joined Chelsea in 2009 before moving to Benfica in 2011, became an influential part of Chelsea's title-winning side under Mourinho in 2014-15.
"To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn't turn down," Matic said.
"This is a very exciting time for the club and I am looking forward to playing my part in creating more history for this great club."
Matic's arrival followed Mourinho's unsuccessful move for Tottenham Hotspur's Eric Dier as United seek to mount a serious Premier League challenge for the first time since the departure of Alex Ferguson as manager in 2013.
Meanwhile Manchester United and two of their players have been fined by UEFA after they failed to comply with anti-doping regulations.
Defenders Daley Blind and Phil Jones have been fined 8 thousand dollars each and the club was handed a 16 thousand dollar sanction for offences occurring at the Europa League final against Ajax Amsterdam in Stockholm on May 24.
Jones, who UEFA said used "insulting and directing abusive language towards the Doping Control Officer" has also been suspended for two UEFA matches and will miss the Super Cup match against Real Madrid on August 8th and the opening Champions League game.
