Alex Moon (centre) has made 16 appearances this season for Northampton Saints
Northampton Saints lock Alex Moon will leave the club at the end of the season to join Bayonne.
Moon, 27, has made 115 appearances since his Saints debut in 2016 and scored three tries.
He is a former England Under-20 international and took part in a 2020 training camp for the senior side.
“Alex’s move was announced very quickly by Bayonne, and we’re disappointed our supporters will have heard the news that way,” boss Phil Dowson said.
“We wanted to keep hold of Moony, but there were a few forces at play, with him wanting to play abroad at some stage and not being involved with England in the here and now.”
Northampton are currently top of the Premiership and through to the knockout stage of the European Champions Cup after winning all four group games.
“It just feels like now is the right time for me to try my hand playing in a different league, and I’m looking forward to testing myself in the Top14,” Moon said.
“I’m still desperate to finish my time here on a high note; I’ve been involved in three Premiership semi-finals without progressing, which doesn’t sit well with me.
“We’ve been inconsistent at times throughout my career here, doing ok but not realising our potential, but now we’ve got a real opportunity this season to win on the biggest stage.”
Saints have tied Sam Graham, Robbie Smith, Fraser Dingwall, Alex Coles, George Furbank and Alex Mitchell to new contracts for next season.
There has, however, been speculation that skipper Lewis Ludlam could also leave for France, having been linked with a possible move to Toulon.