Bayern Munich coach Thomas Tuchel has welcomed new signing Kim Min-jae to the club, describing him as a “real man.
“We have signed Napoli defender Kim Min-jae on a contract until June 30, 2028,” the Bavarians announced on the club’s official website on Monday (June 19), adding, “A complete central defender, he won the Serie A player of the season. Strong tackling and excellent build-up play. Nicknamed Monster,” the club announced the signing of Kim Min-jae.
It was the end of a long transfer saga. Kim’s departure was one of the biggest stories of the summer transfer window. After joining Napoli in Italy last season, Kim developed into one of Europe’s top center backs, attracting interest from Premier League teams like Manchester United, Manchester City, and Newcastle United, as well as German giants Munich.
The Bavarians quickly snapped him up. A personal agreement was finalized while Kim was in training for basic military training. Expectations were high that the transfer would be finalized between July 1 and 15, when Napoli’s buyout clause would be activated, and the club’s medical staff was dispatched to South Korea to conduct medical tests on the day Kim was released from training.
Nevertheless, the delay in the official announcement raised concerns, but when the club finally made the announcement, Kim was able to put on a Munich jersey.
Tuchel was delighted with the news. Up until now, Tuchel has tried to keep his comments to a minimum, but since the signing was confirmed, he has been lavishing praise on the player.
In his first pre-season press conference on the 15th, Tuchel said, “We are waiting for the transfer of a player from South Korea to be confirmed,” but added, “I won’t say the name publicly. But we need to fill the void left by Luca Hernandez (Paris Saint-Germain), and he will replace him.”
“He’s a real man,” said Tuchel, who could tell it was Kim Min-jae because he said South Korea but didn’t say his name.
According to the German kicker, Tuchel said, “Kim Min-jae is a real man. He’s tall and fast,” and added, “I’m really happy to be here. I had a few video calls with him. He’s already ready to go.”
“He’s had an unusual career. “He’s had an unusual career, 메이저놀이터 which means he’s proven himself,” he said, reiterating that he is “big, fast and very reliable.
Following Tuchel’s lead, the club’s hierarchy also praised Kim and welcomed his arrival. Jan-Christian Dresen, CEO of Bayern Munich, said: “Kim has made a huge step forward. He has impressed us with his physical presence as well as his mental strength and speed. We are delighted that he can start training immediately and we are sure that his style of play will inspire our fans.” The CEO of Dresden was also impressed by Kim’s ability to combine physicality and speed.