Atletico Madrid defender and France international Lucas Hernandez will join Bayern Munich on a five-year contract starting July 1st, 2019.
Bayern Munich have already begun rebuilding their squad with an emphasis on signing young stars who can add talent to the squad for both the present and the future. The Bavarians have taken their next step in doing just that by signing Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez.
Die Roten just announced that they have agreed a deal with both the player and his current club, Atletico Madrid, that will see him make his move official this summer. Bayern have paid Atletico a record-breaking €80 million to meet Hernandez’s buyout clause, and the France international has signed a five-year deal that will become effective on July 1st.
At 23, Lucas Hernandez is one of the hottest young defenders in Europe. Despite his relatively young age, he has plenty of experience under his belt. He’s a world champion with France, and his ability to play in both central defense and on the left will be a huge asset to Bayern.
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This deal has been a long time coming, since the Bavarians first showed interest in the Frenchman at the end of December. It was initially believed Hernandez would move in the winter transfer window. Bayern, however, didn’t want to jeopardize their relationship with Atletico Madrid and opted to wait to trigger the player’s release clause.
Upon undergoing his medical, Hernandez was found to have a ligament issue with his right knee. He is undergoing surgery today and should be all fit for the beginning of the 2018-19 season.
Speaking with Bayern’s official website, Hernandez explained his decision to join the Bavarians giants.
"“This is a really important day in my footballing career. FC Bayern Munich is one of the best clubs in Europe and the world.I’m proud to be able to fight for all possible titles with Bayern. I’d like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my teammates and the fans for 12 wonderful years. Atletico will always remain a part of me. Now I’m looking forward to taking the next step with FC Bayern.”"
Hernandez is the second addition Bayern have confirmed for the summer, and the second member of France’s 2018 World Cup starting XI set to join the club.
His signature, along with the massive €80 million fee the club paid for him, is a statement of intent from the club. Bayern are no longer afraid to spend big in the transfer market to sign the necessary players to get them back among Europe’s elite.