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. Cheap Air Max Plus China . Ireland was the last unbeaten side in the championship after France fell to Wales on Friday, and was favoured to end a three-match losing run to England with a side with more than twice as many caps, rampant momentum, and added incentive to celebrate Brian ODriscolls world record-tying 139th test cap. Air Max Plus Clearance . Each day, TSN.ca provides the latest rumours, reports and speculation from around the NHL beat. Defensive Depth TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun is reporting the Toronto Maple Leafs have considerable interest in unrestricted free-agent defenceman Dan Boyle. http://www.clearanceairmaxplus.com/ .? It was his second straight start for the Jets; he suffered a 1-0 loss against Minnesota Monday. So this season Hutchinson has now won games in the ECHL, AHL and NHL. He was perfect three- for-three in the shootout to nail down the win. Cheap Air Max Plus Wholesale . - Playing a road game against a division rival raises the intensity for linebacker Clay Matthews. Discount Air Max Plus . - Mike Magee converted two penalty kicks in a 10-minute span of the first half and the Chicago Fire beat Sporting Kansas City 2-1 on Sunday.SEATTLE -- Jake Odorizzi did his job on the mound backing up what David Price did the previous night for Tampa Bay. It got overshadowed by the concern for how long the Rays could be without All-Star second baseman Ben Zobrist. Odorizzi pitched one-hit ball, but the Rays lost Zobrist to a dislocated thumb during a 2-0 win over the Seattle Mariners on Wednesday. Zobrists injury isnt considered serious. But the Rays are not sure whether hell end up on the disabled list or be able to play through the injury. Rays manager Joe Maddon said the club would likely make a decision on Thursday after seeing how the thumb responds. "Were getting different opinions. I think a lot of it has to do with how sore he is tomorrow, how swollen and sore," Maddon said. "That could indicate DL. That could indicate maybe not." Zobrist hurt his left thumb on a headfirst slide while trying to steal second base in the fifth and yelled in pain. The valuable all-purpose player jammed himself into the bag after being tagged out, walked off the field holding his hand and later had his thumb adjusted back into place. Zobrist said having the thumb put back in hurt more than jamming it originally. X-rays to check if there was a fracture were negative. "I guess best case scenario is it heals very quickly and I can get back on the field, maybe within a week," Zobrist said. "Thats unlikely I think and I think theyre trying to decide whether I need to go on the DL or not. Well see what decision is made." Odorizzi (2-3) picked up his first win since the opening week of the season, teaming with three relievers on a combined two-hitter. Odorizzi allowed only two baserunners, both on walks, and then retired 12 straight batters before James Jones broke up the no-hit bid with a two-out single in the sixth. Odorizzi struck out Stefan Romero to end the sixth, his eighth, but his pitch count was at 95. Odorizzi said he knew he had a no-hitter going but realized it was a long time before it could become reality.dddddddddddd "If I would have gotten through that sixth inning there are still nine outs to go. Thats a lot of outs. I dont think you really think about it until its like the eighth inning and you have an out or two," Odorizzi said. "The hit we gave up was on the pitch we wanted too." With the Rays bullpen rested after Prices complete game the night before, Maddon ended Odorizzis day after six innings. Jake McGee walked Robinson Cano to open the seventh, but got Justin Smoak to ground into a double play. Joel Peralta worked around a one-out double by Dustin Ackley in the eighth, helped by a questionable strikeout of John Buck when he was called out by first base umpire Lance Barksdale on a check swing. That set off Seattle manager Lloyd McClendon. His argument led to his second ejection of the season and left a fan with a souvenir after McClendon threw his hat into the stands. "It is what it is," McClendon said. "You write what you saw. If I tell it, I get fined." Grant Balfour worked the ninth for his seventh save in eight chances. Brandon Maurer (1-2) and the Seattle bullpen held the Rays to three hits, but Tampa Bay scored twice in the fourth on a bases-loaded walk to Yunel Escobar and a wild pitch that scored Wil Myers. Maurer failed to make it through that inning after losing command. With a runner already on base, Maurer issued three straight two-out walks to Myers, Brandon Jennings and the last to Escobar that forced in a run. Reliever Dominic Leone almost immediately threw a wild pitch that scored Myers. NOTES: Rays won consecutive games for first time since May 1-2. ... Seattle LHP James Paxton (back) threw a 52-pitch bullpen session on Wednesday. Paxton hopes to throw a simulated game this weekend on the road. ... Seattle SS Brad Miller committed his seventh error. He had seven errors in 68 games at SS last season. Wholesale HoodiesNFL Shirts OutletJerseys NFL WholesaleCheap NFL Jerseys Free ShippingWholesale Jerseys CheapCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaWholesale JerseysWholesale NFL JerseysCheap NFL Jerseys ChinaCheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '