Official: Juan Mata signs for Western Sydney Wanderers till 2025 after seven months away from football

Juan Mata has signed for A-League club Western Sydney Wanderers as a free agent, after leaving Vissel Kobe in Japan. The midfielder spent seven months on the sidelines, having left the Japanese champions in February this year.

Now, he finally has a new challenge to take up and will play a different brand of football in the Australian league. The attacking midfielder has been officially announced as a new signing and will be wearing the number 64 shirt at his new club.

Juan Mata signs for Western Sydney Wanderers as free agent

📝 Bienvenido Juan!

We have tonight confirmed the signing of @FIFAWorldCup, @ChampionsLeague and @EURO2024 winner @juanmata8 for the upcoming @ALeagues season: https://t.co/N1hg9M0Ixc #WSW pic.twitter.com/wKkHrFMJLa

— WS Wanderers FC (@wswanderersfc) September 5, 2024

The 36-year-old’s contract with the A-League club runs till June 2025. Juan Mata acknowledged the transfer on his X/Twitter account, writing the following message:

“I’m feeling, again, very thankful to football for the many experiences and joy that keeps bringing to my life… Today, a new adventure is starting, and I’m super excited about it! I will keep enjoying this amazing sport by playing not only in a different country… but in a different continent: AUSTRALIA, HERE I GO!

“I have always been amazed with your country and longed to live there… Now, I will do it in the beautiful city of Sydney. I’m joining @wswanderersfc , 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 ahead. Feeling grateful and excited for this new adventure, and looking forward to trying to win another championship in a different league!”

The signing is a massive one for WSW, given Maria’s incredible career in Europe, winning the FIFA World Cup, Euros, Premier League, Champions League and Europa League trophies. The midfielder also won the league in Turkey and Japan and now joins another top team in a new country in the twilight years of his career.