Introducing... Juan Mata

Manchester United have sealed the stunning signing of Juan Mata from Chelsea. Here, we run the rule over Old Trafford's new arrival...

Born: 28/04/1988; Burgos, Spain.

Background: Mata established himself as one of the Barclays Premier League's biggest stars after making an instant impact at Chelsea. The world-class schemer scored 12 goals in his debut season in 2011/12 at Stamford Bridge before bagging 11 in the league alone last term. A former Real Madrid 'B' player, he shone at Valencia and became one of La Liga's most influential performers. Chelsea won the race to sign him in 2011, despite reported interest from Arsenal, and he repaid their faith with a string of top-drawer performances. It was no surprise when he was voted the club's Player of the Year in both of his full campaigns in the capital, to go alongside his FA Cup, Champions League and Europa League winners' medals. At international level, the list of honours is even more impressive. Among Spain's World Cup and European Championship winners, Mata made a single substitute appearance in South Africa 2010 and scored in the final of Euro 2012 against Italy. The 25-year-old also captained Spain to European Under-21 Championship glory in 2011 and represented his country in the London 2012 Olympics.

Where does he play? Most at home in the no.10 role but he can also play out wide on the left and has the creativity to hurt defences from all over the pitch. He told Chelsea's official website: “'I'm not a striker but obviously the more goals I can score the better it is for the team. Last season I changed my position slightly and I was playing in a more central role, so that's better for me in terms of getting into the box and scoring goals. I feel I've improved my judgement of when to arrive in the box, as well as providing assists, so it's important for me to score goals. His creativity sets him apart - only two players in Premier League history boast a better minutes-per-goal-assist rate, and since arriving in England only Wayne Rooney and David Silva have set up more goals.

We have history, don't we? Mata has scored in three different games against United, including in the 3-3 draw in February 2012, when only a spectacular save by fellow countryman David De Gea denied him a free-kick winner. In October 2012, he netted a set-piece in a 3-2 defeat and hit the only goal of the game at Old Trafford last May, thanks to a deflection off Phil Jones. Before his move to England, he played twice for Valencia against the Reds in the Champions League in 2010, coming on as a substitute in the 1-1 draw at Old Trafford after starting the 1-0 loss at the Mestalla.