THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
MUNICH, Germany — Bayern Munich has completed the long-awaited signing of Spain midfielder Javi Martinez from Athletic Bilbao in the most expensive transfer in the 50 years of Bundesliga.
The defensive midfielder cost C40 million ($50 million), far exceeding the previous most expensive transfer by a German club.
Mario Gomez reportedly cost between C30 million and C35 million when he joined Bayern from VfB Stuttgart in 2009.
Bayern says Martinez signed a five-year contract.
Bayern chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge says that "this was without question a complicated transfer."
Martinez is to be presented at a news conference in Munich on Thursday.