MUNICH - Bayern Munich has completed the signing of Athletic Bilbao's Spain midfielder Javi Martinez, the Bundesliga side said Wednesday, in a deal widely reported to be worth a German record of 40 million euros ($49.2 million).
Martinez, 23, had rescinded his contract with Bilbao - which had a buyout clause of 40 million euros - and been given permission to join Bayern by the Spanish football federation and the professional football league (LFP ), Bayern said in a statement on its website.
He has passed a medical and was available to play immediately.
Before Bayern confirmed the deal, Bilbao said in a statement that Martinez had traveled to Germany without their permission on Tuesday to finalize the move and they had asked him for an explanation.
Raised at Osasuna, Martinez was signed by Bilbao as a 17-year-old in 2006 and has played for Spain at all age levels.
