LONDON – Manchester United have signed Serbia international Nemanja Matic from Premier League champions Chelsea on three-year contract with an option to extend for a further year, both clubs said on Monday.
Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, but British media reported that United paid between £40 million and £50m 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 would like to thank him for his desire to join us because without that, it would be impossible to have him here. I am sure our players and supporters will love him. A big welcome to our new number 31.”
Matic added: “I am delighted to have joined Manchester United. To work with Jose Mourinho once again was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.
“I have enjoyed my time at Chelsea, and would like to thank the club and the fans for their support. I cannot wait to meet my new teammates and to start training with them.
A big welcome to our new no.31... #MaticIsRed pic.twitter.com/Mo1TM9gb26
— Manchester United (@ManUtd) July 31, 2017
“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.”
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.