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Juan Mata joined Manchester United in 2014 Former Manchester United and Chelsea midfielder Juan Mata has joined A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers on a one-year contract. The 36-year-old Spaniard has been a free agent since leaving Japanese team Vissel Kobe in January 2024. Mata left England in 2022 to join Galatasaray, where he won the league in his only season in Turkey. "I'm really excited to join the Western Sydney Wanderers, the only Australian team to ever win the Asian Champions League, and I cannot wait to arrive and train with the team to prepare for the season, " said Mata. "I'm feeling grateful and excited for this new adventure, and looking forward to trying to win another championship in a different league. " Vissel Kobe win J-League for first time United talking point: Mata deserved better Mata, capped 40 times for Spain, joined Chelsea in 2011 in a £23. 5m move from Valencia. The playmaker was a fans' favourite at Stamford Bridge, winning the club's player of the year award in both of his full seasons in west London. Mata won the Champions League and FA Cup with the Blues in 2012, as well as the Europa League in 2013. The midfielder was also part of the Spain squad that won the 2010 World Cup and Euro 2012. He joined Manchester United for a then-club record £37. 1m in 2014 and spent eight years at Old Trafford. Mata scored as United beat Crystal Palace in the 2016 FA Cup final, then won the EFL Cup and Europa League in 2017. He left the club on a free transfer in 2022 to join Galatasaray, having scored 51 times in 285 appearances for the Red Devils. Find all the latest football transfers on our dedicated page Paralympics 2024: Three bronze medals for GB so far on day eight Football latest: Nations League build-up as Scotland and Northern Ireland prepare for opener I have another 'level' for US Open semi-final - Draper Zelensky: From entertainer to a world leader The extraordinary life of Zelensky and how war in Ukraine changed everything Mystery drama set in the eerie Australian wilderness A big city detective is caught in a tangled web of murder, deceit and revenge Five boys and one boy band dream Can these Brits become the kings of K-pop in just 100 days? From the creator of Father Brown, meet Sister Boniface Nun, winemaker and moped rider Sister Boniface at your service! What have we learned from every team's first three Premier League games? Joyce throws fastest strikeout recorded in Major League Baseball. Video Joyce throws fastest strikeout recorded in Major League Baseball 'Why 'cheat code' Chiefs have tools to complete Super Bowl three-peat' Osimhen made Napoli believe, so why is he heading to Galatasaray? Buttler, Stokes, schedule - questions as England go all in on Mc Cullum 'An impossible dream' - how Suarez became one of Europe's best 'Draper running with the baton passed by Murray' F1 Q&A: Can Red Bull recover from loss in form? 'A quartet of wins that show money doesn't buy golfing glory' 'Let's go all in' - why it's now or never for Rodgers & the Jets The games, goals and quotes that defined Bellamy's Wales days Weekly football quiz: Who beat Chelsea in Europe? 'We are allowing them to be stars' - FC Copenhagen Women make mark What's happening and when at Paris Paralympics? © 2024 BBC. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking.