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Kim Minjae
Kim Min-jae
Personal information
Full name: Kim Min-jae
김민재
Date of birth: November 15, 1996 (1996-11-15) (age 28)
Place of birth:    Tongyeong, Gyeongnam, Flag of South Korea South Korea
Height: 6 ft 3 in (1.91 m)
Playing position: Defender
Club information
Current club Flag of Germany Bayern Munich
Number: 3
Youth clubs
0000–2006
2007–2008
2009–2010
2010–2011
2012–2015
2015–2016
Flag of South Korea Dooryong Elementary School
Flag of South Korea Gimhae Gaya Elementary School
Flag of South Korea Namhae Haesung Middle School
Flag of South Korea Yeoncho Middle School
Flag of South Korea Suwon Technical High School
Flag of South Korea Yonsei University
Senior clubs
Years Club App (Gls)
2016
2017–2018
2019–2021
2021–2022
2022–2023
2023–
Flag of South Korea Gyeongju KNHP
Flag of South Korea Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors
Flag of China Beijing Gouan
Flag of Turkey Fenerbahçe
Flag of Italy Napoli
Flag of Germany Bayern Munich
017 00(0)
052 00(3)
045 00(0)
031 00(1)
035 00(2)
0000(0)   
National team
2014
2016–2018
2017-
Flag of South Korea South Korea U19
Flag of South Korea South Korea U23
Flag of South Korea South Korea
0000(0)
0000(0)
049 00(3)


Kim Minjae (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. Considered one of the best defenders in Europe, he is known for his strength, aggressive defending and ability to read opponents.

Kim was born in Tongyeong to a family of athletes. He began his youth football career through traditional academic schools. In 2015, he was enrolled to Yonsei University, but eventually dropped out in his sophomore year, in order to fulfil his dream of becoming professional footballer. Kim joined semi-professional club Gyeongju KNHP in the summer of 2016, and just half of a year later, he made his professional debut with K League 1 side Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors. He quickly established himself as a key player for the club, and was named as K League Young Player of the Year in his first season. He also helped the team to win two consecutive league titles. His success at Jeonbuk was also accompanied by series of injuries, which prevented him from participating at 2018 FIFA World Cup with the national team. Regardless, Kim would continue on to build his career, joining Chinese side Beijing Gouan in 2019.

His good performances with Beijing attracted several interests from Europe. Tottenham Hotspur was one of the clubs which tried to sign him, but failed at negotiation with the Chinese side. At the same time, Kim also got into controversy after harshly criticizing Beijing's style of play. He only played two matches in 2021 with the club, before finally getting his European transfer dream to Turkish side Fenerbahçe on August 2021. One year later, he joined Napoli for a reported fee of €18.05 million, and will be used as replacement for outgoing Kalidou Koulibaly.

Kim is also an international player for South Korea. He made his senior debut as a starter in a World Cup qualifying match against Iran on 31 August 2017, where his side kept a clean sheet in a 0–0 draw. He missed out the 2018 FIFA World Cup tournament, but he was able to return for the 2018 Asian Games, where he helped the South Korean side to get gold medals. He was also part of South Korean team in the 2019 AFC Asian Cup and 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Honours[]

Club[]

Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors

Napoli

International[]

South Korea U23

South Korea

  • EAFF Championship: 2019

Individual[]

External links[]

Bayern Logo 001
Bayern München squad - 2024–25

Neuer (c) · Upamecano · Kim · De Ligt · Kimmich · Gnabry · Goretzka · Kane · 10 Sané · 11 Coman · 13 Choupo-Moting · 18 Peretz · 19 Davies · 20 Sarr · 22 Guerreiro · 25 Müller · 26 Ulreich · 27 Laimer · 28 Buchmann · 39 Tel · 40 Mazraoui · 41 Krätzig · 42 Musiala · 43 Hülsmann · 45 Pavlović ·

Manager:  Flag of Belgium Vincent Kompany
Bayern Logo 001
300px-Emblem of Korea Football Association.svg
Flag of South Korea South Korea
South Korean competitions · South Korean coaches · South Korean players · South Korean stadiums
300px-Emblem of Korea Football Association.svg

Template:South Korea squad (2019 AFC Asian Cup)

300px-Emblem of Korea Football Association.svg
South Korea – 2022 FIFA World Cup – Round of 16

1. Kim Seung-gyu 2. Yoon Jong-gyu 3. Kim Jin-su 4. Kim Min-jae 5. Jung Woo-young 6. Hwang In-beom 7. Son Heung-min (c) 8. Paik Seung-ho 9. Cho Gue-sung 10. Lee Jae-sung 11. Hwang Hee-chan 12. Song Bum-keun 13. Son Jun-ho 14. Hong Chul 15. Kim Moon-hwan 16. Hwang Ui-jo 17. Na Sang-ho 18. Lee Kang-in 19. Kim Young-gwon 20. Kwon Kyung-won 21. Jo Hyeon-woo 22. Kwon Chang-hoon 23. Kim Tae-hwan 24. Cho Yu-min 25. Jeong Woo-yeong 26. Song Min-kyu Manager:  Flag of Portugal Paolo Bento

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