• Transfer News

Hernandez joins Real Madrid on loan

Real Madrid have confirmed that Javier Hernandez is joining on a season-long loan from Manchester United with an option for a permanent deal.

Hernandez sealed a move to the European champions after passing a medical on Monday.

LIVE - Transfer deadline day

• Follow all the Premier League ins and outs on transfer deadline day with our live blog here

A statement on the club's official website read: "Real Madrid and Manchester United have reached an agreement for the loan of the player Javier Hernandez Chicharito, who will be attached to the club for the current season. Real Madrid retains an option to purchase the player.

United received offers from Juventus and Valencia for the striker last week, but he has opted to move to Real.

Hernandez has been allowed to leave after United agreed to bring in Monaco forward Radamel Falcao, himself a reported target of Real, on loan.

Falcao further muddies United waters

Radamel Falcao is heading to Old Trafford © Getty Images

• Radamel Falcao looks a rogue signing for a Manchester United side refusing to gel under Louis van Gaal, writes John Brewin.
• Click here to keep reading

The striker has slipped further down the pecking order at Old Trafford in recent years after the arrivals of Robin van Persie, Juan Mata and now Falcao.

He signed for £6.9 million from Guadalajara in 2010 and was named United's player of the year in his debut season, when he scored 20 goals.

He has gone on to score 59 goals in 154 games for the club but only started six league matches last season and while he began the current campaign in the team, he was substituted at half-time in the 2-1 defeat to Swansea.

Hernandez, who has scored 36 times in 66 caps for his country, becomes the third Mexican to play for Real after Jose Luis Borbolla and Hugo Sanchez, who scored 208 goals for the 32-times champions of Spain.

Mexico manager Miguel Herrera had earlier tweeted: "Going to Real Madrid is a big opportunity for [Hernandez], for whom I wish the best of success."

Llegar al Real Madrid es una gran oportunidad para @CH14_ , a quién le deseo el mejor de los ¡éxitos!— Miguel Herrera (@MiguelHerreraDT) September 1, 2014

Hernandez is expected to understudy to first-choice striker Karim Benzema at the Bernabeu and, in the last five years, no player has scored more goals as a substitute in the top five European leagues than the 26-year-old, who has struck 14 times after coming off the bench at Old Trafford.

Hernandez will join James Rodriguez, Toni Kroos and Keylor Navas among Real's summer signings.

Real Madrid have an option to make Javier Hernandez's switch permanent © Getty Images

Enlarge

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd