体坛英语新闻：Bayern pay buyout clause of Spain international Javi Martinez

MADRID, Aug. 29 (Xinhua) -- Bayern Munch this Wednesday confirmed the signing of former Athletic Club Bilbao midfielder Javi Martinez.

Martinez, who will be 24-year-old on September 2nd, has cost Bayern the 40 million Euros of his buyout clause, making him the most expensive player ever to join a Bundesleague club.

The signing appeared imminent once it became clear that Martinez had travelled to Munich on Tuesday night to undergo medical tests with his now new club. Athletic responded by posting a communique on the club's official website highlighting that the player made his trip without their permission.

Athletic have refused all summer to negotiate the sale of one of their key players, insisting that if Bayern wanted to buy the Spain international, who can also play in central defense, they would have to buy out his contract.

That is what Bayern have chosen to do, depositing a cheque at the offices of the Spanish Football League (LFP) in the Wednesday afternoon.

Martinez joined Athletic from Osasuna as a 17-year-old and made 201 league appearances for the Basque club.

Athletic now have until midnight on Friday night, when the transfer window closes, if they want to try and sign a replacement. The club only signs players born or raised in the Basque region in the north of Spain and the south-west of France and has a limited market in which to make a new signing.