
Bayern Munich has made their first major move of the summer, triggering the €50 million release clause of South Korean defender Kim Min-jae. Min-jae, who spent last season with Serie A champions Napoli, is regarded as one of the best defenders in the world right now. Premier League clubs Manchester United and Newcastle United were rumored to be interested in the 26-year-old.
Min-jae was one of the stars of Napoli last season, helping the club win the Serie A for the first time since 1990. While attackers Osimhen and Kvaratskhelia led the way, the South Korean was a rock at the back — no team conceded fewer goals than Napoli’s 28. He was similarly important in the Champions League, but he missed the second leg of the quarter-finals against AC Milan due to suspension, with his side ultimately being eliminated.
Min-jae will join Bundesliga giants Bayern Munich, who arguably have one of the strongest defenses in the world. While Lucas Hernández is leaving the club for PSG, they still have Matthijs de Ligt and Dayot Upamecano at center-back. At left back, they have Alphonso Davies and Raphael Guerreiro. On the right, they have Benjamin Pavard, Noussair Mazraoui, and Josip Stanisic.
Bayern struggled last season, barely winning the Bundesliga and failing to win the DFB Pokal and Champions League. Now, coach Thomas Tuchel is restructuring the team, with Min-jae being the club’s third addition — earlier signings were Guerreiro and Konrad Laimer. He will be an important part of the defense and will hope to form a strong partnership with Matthijs de Ligt. Min-jae will wear #3, and he is under contract until 2028.
Prior to Napoli, he spent time with Fenerbahce, Jeonbuk Hyundai, and Beijing Guoan. He is an important part of South Korea’s defense, helping South Korea win the 2018 Asian Games.
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Image Courtesy of FA Lebanon, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.