Pillar of Napoli, who made history in the 2022/23 season by conquering the Italian Serie A, Kim Min-jae has found a new home in the Old Continent. The Bavarian team is set to pay the release clause of approximately €50 million to acquire the South Korean defender.
Being desired by several Premier League clubs, the South Korean center-back was convinced by Bayern Munich’s project. Despite the interest from Premier League clubs, Kim Min-jae ultimately chose the current ten-time Bundesliga champions as his new club.
The information was disclosed by football transfer specialist journalist Fabrizio Romano and German channel Sky Sports. Kim was a standout player for Italian champions Napoli and was named the best defender of Serie A. He arrives as a potential replacement for Lucas Hernández, who is on his way to PSG.
Kim Min-jae is a significant signing
At 26 years old, he will experience German football for the first time, following successful stints in China, Turkey, and Italy. He initially began his career at Gyeongju KHNP, where he garnered attention and was subsequently signed by Jeonbuk Hyundai, a top-tier team in South Korea.
Having excelled in the K League, Kim secured a move to Beijing Guoan and later made his way to European football. The signing with Napoli, where he was voted the best defender during their Scudetto-winning campaign, was achieved.
Bayern Munich agreed to pay the stipulated release clause in his contract: €50 million. He signs with the Bavarian Giant for five years, until June 2028, and arrives to become the defensive sheriff of the German club.
As of now, Bayern Munich has already officially announced three reinforcements for the 2023/24 season: midfielder Konrad Laimer (free transfer), wing-back Raphaël Guerreiro (free transfer), and center-back Kim Min-jae. The club is still pursuing a prominent striker to conclude their transfer window, with Tottenham’s Harry Kane being the priority target for the position.
