Kim Min-jae (footballer)

About

Kim Min-jae (Korean: 김민재; born 15 November 1996) is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Bayern Munich and the South Korea national team.
After starting out at semi-professional club Gyeongju KHNP for half a year, Kim went on to play for Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors, where he won two K League 1 titles for two years before transferring to Beijing Guoan in 2019. After two-and-half years at the Chinese Super League, he joined Süper Lig side Fenerbahçe in 2021, and Serie A side Napoli in 2022. He was considered one of the best defenders in the world, when helping Napoli win a Serie A title in the 2022–23 season. Then, in July 2023, he moved to Bayern Munich for €50 million, making him the most expensive Asian player of all time.
Kim is a South Korean international, having progressed from under-20 onwards. He represented the national team at the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups and two editions of the AFC Asian Cup.

Kim was born in Tongyeong. Both of his parents are former athletes and his brother was also a footballer who played as a goalkeeper for Myongji University.
Kim embarked on his youth football career with the football club…