Bayern Munich have agreed a deal to sign Atlético Madrid and France defender Lucas Hernández at the end of the current season after meeting the player’s 80-million-euro release clause. Bayern have been monitoring the 23-year-old for some time and were close to signing him in the January window but Diego Simeone made it plain to the club’s hierarchy that he wanted the World Cup winner to remain at the Metropolitano. However, Hernández will now move to the Bundesliga champions in the summer after agreeing terms on a five-year contract at the Allianz Arena. Hernández to undergo season-ending surgery “I’m very happy to be able to sign one of the best defenders in the world, a World Cup winner, in Lucas Hernandez,” Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic said in a statement on the Bavarian club’s website. “Lucas can play both in central defence and at left-back. Moreover, Lucas will continue our great tradition of French footballers and improve our team.” The departure of Hernández will come as a blow to Simeone and Atlético, with the club having been knocked out of the Champions League and effectively the Liga title race after losses to Juventus and Betis before the international break. To add injury to insult for Simeone, Bayern also announced that a knee problem that has sidelined Hernández in recent weeks is serious enough for surgery to that after discussions with Atlético it was agreed that the France defender would go under the knife in the coming days, effectively ending his season and his Atlético career in one fell swoop. "During the medical examination we found damage to the medial collateral ligament in his right knee that must be remedied through surgery,” Bayern’s club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Müller-Wohlfahrt was quoted as saying on the club website. “Based on experience, Lucas Hernandez will be available for FC Bayern by the start of the 2019/20 Bundesliga season.”<doc-sep>(CNN) Dumped out of the Champions League by Liverpool, Bundesliga champion Bayern Munich has accelerated the task of revamping its squad by signing defender Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid for $90 million. The 23-year-old Hernandez, who was part of France's World Cup winning team last year, will join Bayern on July 1. The $90 million fee is a record for Bayern, almost doubling the sum paid for Corentin Tolisso, who is also French. "I'm very happy we've been able to sign one of the best defenders in the world, a World Cup winner, in Lucas Hernandez," Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic told the club's website. "Lucas can play both in central defence and at left-back. Moreover, Lucas will continue our great tradition of French footballers and improve our team." Read More<doc-sep>The France international joins compatriot Benjamin Pavard in agreeing a move to the Allianz Arena ahead of the 2019-20 season Bayern Munich have completed a club-record €80 million (£68m/$90m) deal to sign Atletico Madrid defender Lucas Hernandez. The full-back, who was part of the France team to win the 2018 World Cup, has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions having completed a medical over the international break. He becomes the second defensive reinforcement to have agreed to join Bayern this summer, with international team-mate Benjamin Pavard also on his way to Bavaria from Stuttgart after a €35m (£31m/$40m) deal was agreed in January. "Today is a very important day in my football career," Hernandez said in a statement released by his new club. "Bayern Munich is one of the best clubs in Europe and the world. I am proud to be able to fight for all titles for Bayern in the future. "I would like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my team-mates and the fans for a wonderful 12 years. Atletico will always be part of me. Now I'm happy that I'm taking the next step at Bayern." Hernandez leaves Atletico having formed a key part of their defence under Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital. Since making his debut for the Rojiblancos in 2014 he has made 110 appearances for the club, though he will play no further role for Simeone's side this season as he requires knee ligament surgery. "In our sports medical examination, we found damage to the inner ligament of the right knee, which must be repaired surgically," Bayern club doctor Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt revealed. "In my experience, Lucas Hernandez will be available to FC Bayern for the start of the 2019-20 Bundesliga season." Hernandez, who can also play at centre-back, has made 15 appearances for his country and played every match for Didier Deschamps' side as they lifted the World Cup for the second time in Russia last summer. "I am very happy that in Lucas Hernandez we have been able to sign one of the best defensive players in the world and a world champion," said Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. "Lucas can be used both in central defence and on the left of defence. In addition, Lucas will continue our tradition of outstanding French players and strengthen our team." Hernandez's arrival continues Bayern's rebuilding project after an indifferent campaign for the giants of German football. Article continues below A sluggish start to the season under new manager Niko Kovac saw them slip behind Borussia Dortmund in the Bundesliga title race, though Bayern have since made up a six-point gap since the winter break and top the table on goal difference with eight matches to play. In the Champions League, however, they failed to make the quarter-finals of the competition for the first time since 2011 following a last-16 defeat to Liverpool. Those disappointments, combined with an ageing squad that is set to lose Arjen Robben and Franck Ribery this summer, means Hernandez is unlikely to be the last new addition to the Bayern squad ahead of next season.<doc-sep>
Bayern Munich have completed the signing of Lucas Hernandez from Atletico Madrid for a fee of €80 million ($89 million). The full-back, who was part of the France team to win the 2018 World Cup, has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga champions having completed a medical over the international break. “I’m very happy to be able to sign one of the best defenders in the world, a World Cup winner, in Lucas Hernandez,” said FC Bayern sporting director Hasan Salihamidzic. “Lucas can play both in central defence and at left-back. Moreover, Lucas will continue our great tradition of French footballers and improve our team.” He becomes the second defensive reinforcement to have agreed to join Bayern this summer, with international team-mate Benjamin Pavard also on his way to Bavaria from Stuttgart. "Today is a very important day in my football career," Hernandez said in a statement released by his new club. "Bayern Munich is one of the best clubs in Europe and the world. I am proud to be able to fight for all titles for Bayern in the future. "I would like to thank Atletico, the management, the coaches, my team-mates and the fans for a wonderful 12 years. Atletico will always be part of me. Now I'm happy that I'm taking the next step at Bayern." Hernandez was strongly linked to Bayern in January, but Atleti didn't want to let him leave until the end of the season. Hernandez leaves Atletico having formed a key part of their defence under Diego Simeone in the Spanish capital. Since making his debut for the Rojiblancos in 2014 he has made 110 appearances for the club, though he will play no further role for Simeone's side this season as he requires knee ligament surgery.