What is Bayern Munich getting in Kim Min-Jae?

While winning the club’s 11th consecutive Bundesliga title, Bayern Munich did not achieve the standards that the historic club is accustomed to. With early exits in both the Champions League and the German Pokal, Die Roten entered the summer transfer period looking to make additions to the side.

Free signings from Bundesliga rivals RB Leipzig and Dortmund, in the form of both Konrad Laimer and Raphael Guerreiro, early in the transfer window showcased Rekordmeister’s desire to strengthen the squad ahead of the 23/24 season. The Bavarian club now looks prepared to dip into the club’s financial coffers to spend on their first player in the transfer period to strengthen their backline.

Bayern appears ready to activate the €50 million release clause of Napoli Center Back Kim Min-jae in the coming days, pending the player’s medical, according to Fabrizio Romano. Min-jae would join Bayern on a 5-year deal and would look to replace the outgoing Lucas Hernandez. The French defender is close to completing a move to PSG.

Since the transfer fee for both defenders is almost the same, Bayern is effectively swapping Hernandez with Kim Min-jae in the squad. This would be another piece of great business for the front office as the South Korean center-back will strengthen the Munich backline. Let’s have a look at exactly what Min-Jae would bring to the club as they begin their quest for a 12th consecutive league title.

Defender at his peak

At just 26 years old, Kim Min-jae is a player that is just now entering the peak of his career. Originally signed by Napoli from Fenerbahce to replace Kalidou Koulibaly last season, the South Korean has spent only two years in Europe. The quick rise to stardom is no accident for Kim Min-jae as he has shown he is up to the challenge no matter the level.

While in the Chinese Super League, Min-jae finished second and third before moving to Fenerbahce for just €3 million. In his lone season at Fenerbahce, the Istanbul club finished second in the Turkish Super Lig. His performances caught the attention of Napoli, who paid a little over €18 million to secure his services.

Min-jae’s only season at Napoli showcased his abilities to perform at the highest of levels as Napoli not only won Serie A but also reached the semi-Finals of the Champions League. Goal.com ranked Min-jae as the 5th best European Signing for the 22/23 season stating:

"Kim has actually proven to be an upgrade on the Senegal star. The 26-year-old, who has been fondly dubbed ‘Monster’ as a result of his powerful showings at the back this season, is a complete all-round defender. He’s quick, powerful and technically astute, which has made him a nightmare for attackers across Serie A. Kim relishes one-on-one duels and his positional awareness has allowed Napoli to play a high line without getting caught in the transition."

It’s becoming quite clear that D is bringing in a player whose best years are just now coming to fruition. As the club looks to build off the successful transfer of De Ligt, Kim Min-Jae looks poised to form a strong partnership at the back.

Front Foot Defender

With Kim Min-jae playing at a high level in both Serie A and the Champions League, the South Korean center-back has been able to showcase his defensive abilities to Europe. Min-jae is a very aggressive and successful defender as shown by leading Serie A with an 86% success rate in tackling % (according to FBref).

Additionally, he is a strong defender in the air and one that is willing to step aggressively into the midfield to challenge the opposition. The 6′ 3″ central defender also possesses the footwork required to defend the space behind. The South Korean does not possess many physical flaws in his game.

Kim Min-jae’s play is very similar to that of Upamecano in that he plays best when asked to be on the front foot and play aggressively. In comparing his defensive stats (using the Squawka comparison matrix) with that of Upamecano, Min-jae showed to have better Aerial Duel Success %, Duels Contested, Clearances, Interceptions, and Blocks than that of the current Bayern Munich center back.

Moreover, the South Korean defender’s Ground Duel Success % was just .12 off that of Upamecano and .04 better than de Ligt. Another key comparison is that of fouls committed attempting a duel, in which again Min-jae performed better than Upamecano.

Passing

While Kim Min-jae’s defending style lends to that of Upamecano and showcases his physical strengths, his ability on the ball tends to favor that of de Ligt. Again using Squawka’s comparison matrix, Min-jae showcased better statistics in passes completed in both the opponent’s half and own half, forward passes, short passes, and take-on success (important as he is a player that will drive forward when the opportunity presents itself much like that of Upamecano). It is also important to note that his pass accuracy was just .33 behind that of de Ligt.

In watching Napoli this past season, Min-jae played very well into Spalletti’s system of short passing and movement. The center back was able to get on the ball and look to play the quick safe option and move to receive within a different passing lane.

While this inflated his short passing statistics, it really showcased his quick decision-making and security on the ball. One aspect of his passing game that can improve is his long-range passing. Comparing that with de Ligt this past season, Min-jae was almost 5% behind that the Dutchman. At times, Min-jae looks to play the long pass and it is either the wrong decision or inaccurate.

In comparing Min-jae to the two Bayern defenders, it’s easy to see that he possesses the blend of both defenders. While his aggressiveness lends to that of Upamecano, his passing statistics are better in certain areas than de Ligt, who was arguably Bayern’s top overall defender this past season. It is clear that Rekordmeister is getting a solid defender that is capable of doing the necessary work defensively, while also possessing the comfortability on the ball to create from the back line.

A New Market

Bayern Munich is one of the most financially stable clubs in all of Europe. One reason is their great sponsorship deals and marketing efforts which can be traced back to Bayern legend Uli Hoeneß who started the strong efforts in commercial revenue and generated big profits for the Bavarian club. The signing of Min-jae allows Bayern to enter into a new market and the opportunity for financial growth.

On top of being a superb defender, and a player that will no doubt find his way into the Starting XI for the 23/24 season, Min-jae will allow Bayern to reach an audience that they may have struggled to reach previously in Asia.

While Tottenham attacker Son Heung-Min is arguably the face of the South Korean national team, Kim Min-jae has positioned himself to take over that role. With Die Roten in a position to showcase him as an important member of the squad moving forward, the marketing and commercial revenue in the Asian market could be poised to expand, which would surely be a welcomed addition to the financial books.

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Kim Min-jae’s quick rise from the Chinese Super League to now that of the German Champions is very impressive. What is equally impressive is the Bayern Munich board’s capture of such a high-quality player so quickly to replace the soon departing Lucas Hernandez. Die Roten has entered this summer transfer window with a mission to improve the overall quality of the team and with the addition of such a highly regarded center-back like Kim Min-jae, the Munich-based club has taken another step in strengthening the team ahead of the 23/24 season.