• Alonso completes medical at German champions • Midfielder moves from Real for fee of around £8m • Alonso announces retirement from Spain duty

This article is more than 6 years old

This article is more than 6 years old

Bayern Munich have signed the Spanish midfielder Xabi Alonso from Real Madrid.

Alonso, who announced his international retirement with Spain on Wednesday, will speak to the media on Friday after joining the German champions for a fee thought to be in the region of £8m (€10m).

“When Bayern are interested in you then you must not hesitate for a single second,” Alonso told Germany’s Sport 1 television. “I am looking forward to what lies ahead. I am proud at my age to have another chance to play for such a great club.”

The 32-year-old completed a successful medical on Thursday and will join up with compatriot Pep Guardiola at his new club. With injuries to Bastian Schweinsteiger, Javi Martínez and Thiago Alcântara in central midfield, will be expected to slot straight into Bayern’s starting XI.

“I would have a very good feeling for the club and the coach,” said sporting director Mattias Sammer. “After the injuries of Thiago and Schweinsteiger we have been looking for someone, who could help us immediately. And Xabi Alonso could play on top level for two years.”

Alonso’s final match for Real Madrid was their Spanish Super Cup defeat to Atlético Madrid last week, and he was omitted from their first league game of the season, a 2-0 win over Córdoba. The midfielder won his second Champions League title last season, and has also won one La Liga and two Copa del Rey titles since moving to Madrid from Liverpool back in 2009.

“It is now done,” Bayern said in a statement. “On Friday, Bayern and Real Madrid agreed on the transfer and signed the contracts.”

Alonso is due back in Munich later on Friday after addressing the Spanish media in the Santiago Bernabéu press room, alongside Real director Emilio Butragueño.

Alonso, who earlier this week announced his retirement from international soccer after winning one World Cup and two European championships with Spain, is considered as a replacement for the injured Bayern midfielder Javi Martínez.

He passed a medical in Munich on Thursday with Bayern saying terms had also been agreed with the player, whom they wanted to sign as a straight transfer and not as a loan deal from the Spanish club as initially suggested.