MADRID, March 27 (Xinhua) -- Atletico Madrid's French international defender Lucas Hernandez will leave the club at the end of the season to join Bayern Munich as the German club's record signing.
Bayern confirmed the news on Wednesday afternoon explaining on their official website they have paid the 80 million euros (about 90.4 million U.S. dollars) recession clause to ensure the services of the World Cup winning defender, who can play at left back or in central defense.
Hernandez has agreed a five-year-deal and he will join Bayern on July 1.
Atletico Madrid also said on their website that they had offered Hernandez a new contract in order to try and stop him leaving, but that he had decided to join Bayern.
"It is the hardest decision I have made in my life. Atletico means a lot of things to me as I grew up here as a player and as a person and I became the player that I am now. It was very hard to say 'no' to Atletico, but my decision is to take on a new challenge at Bayern Munich," commented Hernandez.
Hernandez joined the Atletico's youth system in 2007 and made his first team debut in 2014. He has played a total of 110 games for Atletico.
It also seems certain that he has played his last game for the club after Bayern club doctor, Hans-Wilhelm Muller-Wohlfahrt confirmed that "In our medical examination, we have found damage to the inner ligament of the right knee, which must be repaired surgically."
Two years ago, Lucas' younger brother Theo Hernandez also left Atletico after Real Madrid paid his buyout clause. Theo is currently on loan at Real Sociedad after the disappointing performance in his first campaign in the Santiago Bernabeu.
