After Raphael Guerreiro and Konrad Laimer, FC Bayern has signed defender Min-Jae Kim. The Harry Kane poker continues.
The freshly sewn leather pants with the initials “MJK” on the right hip fit like a glove, and the “Servus” also came fluently from Min-Jae Kim’s lips: King transfer Harry Kane is still a long time coming, but at least FC has Bayern already committed his “monster” once.
As expected, Munich brought in defender Min-Jae Kim from SSC Naples. The 26-year-old South Korean signed a five-year contract with the German soccer champions until 2028. Kim costs a fixed fee of around 50 million euros.
“FC Bayern is every footballer’s dream,” he said. The newcomer wants to play a lot and “win as many titles as possible”, as he assured. Kim has “made a great development,” said Bayern boss Jan-Christian Dreesen, “he impresses with his physical presence as well as with his mentality and speed.”
The 49-time national player is to replace Munich’s record transfer Lucas Hernandez, who switched to Paris St. Germain for 45 million euros. Bayern seem to have pulled off a coup with the commitment. “Kim does at least 20 incredible things per game, for me he really is the best central defender in the world,” said his previous coach Luciano Spalletti.
After Test match against FC Rottach-Egern (27:0) coach Thomas Tuchel also got enthusiastic about the thought of his new player. “I’m just very happy that he’s here. I’ve only had contact with him via video calls. He’s just a real guy. He’s fully trained and ready to go,” he said, among other things.
FC Bayern: Kim is called “the monster”
In Italy they gave Kim the nickname “the monster” because of his uncompromising style of play. He likes that “very much”, said the often tattooed defender: “That sums up my positive qualities as a defender.”
Andreas Herzog, Jürgen Klinsmann’s assistant coach with the South Korean national soccer team, described Kim, who was voted the best defender in Serie A last season, as a “huge reinforcement” at Sport1. Former South Korean national coach Ulli Stielike praised him as “strong in the air, uncompromising in tackles, but also calm when building up the game, with his 26 years and three stints abroad a mature professional”.
Above all, however, when signing a South Korean player, FC Bayern have “the certainty,” emphasized Stielike on t-online, “that he does not have to worry about any problems outside of sport. For a coach, the discipline, the workload and the great willingness to learn are the most important South Koreans are an excellent basis for cooperation.”
FC Bayern: Harry Kane and Kyle Walker are to come
The defender is the third new signing after Konrad Laimer (RB Leipzig) and Raphael Guerreiro (Dortmund), who came on a free transfer. However, the seven-person transfer committee of the record champions still faces the most difficult task: Superstar Kane is to become the king transfer.
There is said to be an agreement with England’s team captain (29), as with right-back Kyle Walker from Manchester City, but Tottenham Hotspur stands in the way. The transfer fee for Kane could be over the 100 million euro mark. The sale of Sadio Mane could possibly bring money for the outrageously expensive attacker to Saudi Arabia.
FC Bayern: Kim welcomes his new teammates
Shortly before the deal was announced, Kim said goodbye to Naples. “To my passionate club Napoli, Mister Spalletti, my teammates, and above all to all the Napoli fans, I want to express my gratitude,” he said in a video on his Instagram channel on Tuesday.
“No matter where I will be or where I go, I will remember Naples and cheer for you. Thank you,” Kim continued.
A little later, Kim could already be seen at the Munich training camp. As part of the test match against FC Rottach-Egern, he already welcomed his new colleagues. Here is the live ticker.