French defender Lucas Hernandez has signed for German heavyweights Bayern Munich for 80 million euros.
It is the highest amount paid by a Bundesliga club and is the second most expensive transfer fee for a defender, following Virgil van Dijk’s move from Southampton to Liverpool.
Currently at Atletico Madrid – Hernandez will join the German champions on July 1, signing a five-year contract that will boost their defence.
The move adds to Hernandez’s massive last two years, following his involvement in France’s 2018 World Cup winning squad.
While the transfer fee is certainly not the highest in history, it is a big story and a massive investment by Bayern Munich. It is another example of how much power money has in football nowadays, compared to 20 years ago.
The highest ever transfer fee paid for a player was done by French heavyweights PSG – who bought Brazilian superstar Neymar from Barcelona for 222 million euros. Neymar has so far scored 32 goals in 33 competitive games and is one of the highest paid footballers in the world.
PSG also hold the second highest transfer fee paid for a player, with their 180 million euros signing of Kylian Mbappe making him the most expensive teenager to date. Only 20-years-old, Mbappe scored in the 2018 World Cup Final, becoming the second teenager after Pele to do so.
Ten years ago, Real Madrid signed Cristiano Ronaldo for 94 million euros from Manchester United, in what was the biggest transaction in football history at the time. Since then, seven players have been sold at higher prices.
In addition to this, Real Madrid acquired Zinedine Zidane from Juventus for 77.5 million euros in 2001, which was seen as enormous at the time. Almost 20 years later, 14 players have moved clubs for a higher fee. This is an example of how much bigger money is in football, compared to the last few decades.
Hernandez meanwhile has been found to have ligament damage in his knee, however Bayern are confident that the 23-year-old will be ready in time for the beginning of next season, following surgery.
