28 Mar Bayern Munich sign World Cup winner for huge club-record fee

French defender Lucas Hernandez will depart Spanish club Atletico Madrid and join German champions Bayern Munich in the summer for a club-record 80 million euros ($A127 million).

The fee paid is also a Bundesliga record and the second highest in history for a defender, behind the £75 million ($A140 million) Liverpool spent on Dutch centre-back Virgil van Dijk.

Hernandez, 23, joins the Bavarians on a five-year contract from July 1st.

"This is a very important day in my football career," he said.

"Bayern are one of the best clubs in Europe and the world. I am proud of being able to fight for all titles with Bayern."

He becomes the second player from France’s World Cup winning team to sign for Bayern after versatile VfB Stuttgart defender Benjamin Pavard agreed to a 35 million euros (A$55 million) move in January.

It’s part of a major overhaul for the five-time European champions after they were eliminated at the Round of 16 of the Champions League by Liverpool.