Moves surrounding Kim Min-jae's future are heating up. As his playing time at Bayern Munich has decreased, interest from major European clubs is noticeably growing. Claims have even emerged that Luciano Spalletti, who won the Serie A title together with him during their days at SSC Napoli, wants to reunite with Kim Min-jae.
German media outlet fussballdaten reported on the 5th (KST), "Kim Min-jae is likely to be one of the most watched defenders in the 2026 summer transfer market," and "the player himself hopes to stay in Munich and continue competing, but several big European clubs are closely watching the current situation."
It added, "in particular, former connections in the Italian scene and Premier League clubs that play a physically focused style are considering the possibility of signing Kim Min-jae."
This season's flow has not been easy for Kim Min-jae. Early in the season he was evaluated as a core member of Munich's defense, but as time passed the atmosphere changed. The pairing of Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah began to show stability, and naturally Kim Min-jae's playing opportunities noticeably decreased. Especially in more important matches, he spent more time on the bench and was repeatedly used only as a second-half substitute.
The situation was not much different in the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) Champions League (UCL). While Munich advanced to the semifinals, Kim Min-jae started only three matches. Except for the games against Pafos, Union Saint-Gilloise and Atalanta, he mostly remained on the bench and did not get playing time in either of the two quarterfinal matches against Real Madrid. The first-leg semifinal against PSG also ended without him being brought on as a substitute.
Against this backdrop, the possibility of a transfer has naturally been raised again. Fussballdaten analyzed, "Munich has not yet classified Kim Min-jae as a player for permanent sale," but added, "if a large-scale investment plan proceeds in the summer transfer market, the club may move to offload some high earners."
It continued, "Kim Min-jae's annual total pay is about 16 million euros (27.2 billion won), which is a considerable burden for the club," and "if an appropriate offer comes in, negotiations could be opened." The current expected transfer fee is projected at 35 million to 40 million euros (59.6 billion to 68.2 billion won).
Above all, the most intriguing aspect is the link with Juventus and coach Luciano Spalletti. Spalletti led Kim Min-jae to a Serie A title during their time at Napoli and showed the best synergy. At that time Kim Min-jae was regarded as the league's top defender and emerged as a center back attracting attention across Europe. Spalletti is also a coach who understands Kim Min-jae's strengths and how to utilize him better than anyone, so the possibility of a reunion continues to be mentioned. In fact, local Italian media have consistently discussed the possibility of Kim Min-jae's return to Serie A.
However, the realistic variable is still the salary. Since Serie A clubs currently find it difficult to afford pay at Kim Min-jae's level, assessments say Premier League clubs are in a more advantageous financial position. Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United have also been consistently linked with Kim Min-jae, and Newcastle in particular is reportedly prioritizing reinforcements to its defense this summer. Analyses also suggested that Inter Milan, AC Milan and Fenerbahce are monitoring the situation.
Kim Min-jae's contract runs until June 2028. There is still plenty of time, but with reduced playing time and changes in his standing within the team, this summer is increasingly likely to be an important inflection point that will determine the direction of his future career.
[OSEN]