Translation result.
[SPOTV News — Park Daesung] Kim Min-jae, 29, looks set to remain at Bayern Munich this summer and prove his worth at one of the world’s top clubs. Rumors linking him to a return to Türkiye were just that — rumors. He appears focused on the 2026 World Cup in North America rather than a summer transfer.
Florian Plettenberg, who covers German football for Sky Sports, said on the 22nd (Korean time) that “Kim Min-jae does not plan to use the upcoming summer transfer window to leave Bayern Munich.” Plettenberg added that the South Korean center back is fully committed to Bayern, his situation is stable, and he shows no signs of frustration.
As the 2025–26 season entered its final stretch, transfer chatter about Kim resurfaced. Previously linked with a return to Italy’s Serie A, this time the speculation pointed to the Turkish Süper Lig, where he began his European career. Several Turkish outlets, including Sondakika.com, reported Bayern were asking around €30 million (about $32.1 million; roughly 52.3 billion KRW) and that Fenerbahçe might be prepared to pay that fee.
Kim spent a single season at Fenerbahçe but made a huge impact with dominant performances. He shouldered much of Fenerbahçe’s defensive work on his own and earned a reputation as a “monster center back,” leaving a lasting impression on the club’s supporters.
Reports that Fenerbahçe and Kim’s camp had held negotiations were disputed by Plettenberg. He said that, contrary to local Turkish coverage, there have been no talks between Kim and Fenerbahçe in recent days. German tabloid Bild also reported that Fenerbahçe did not approach Bayern about Kim, lending weight to Plettenberg’s account.
After Bayern’s 30th-round win over Stuttgart on the 20th, Kim told local paper TZ, “Winning always feels good. We still have the DFB-Pokal and the UEFA Champions League ahead of us. Now is the time to prepare for what’s next rather than celebrate.”
Bild pointed out that Kim has slipped into a rotation role behind Dayot Upamecano and Jonathan Tah, but Kim has responded with maturity, committing himself to Bayern’s treble challenge despite reduced minutes.
Kim is under contract with Bayern through 2028. German reports say Bayern would consider discussing a move if they received a “suitable offer,” but it’s unclear whether any club could meet Bayern’s terms. Kim also earns a relatively high wage at Bayern, so a transfer would likely require the player’s willingness to leave.
Of course, football is unpredictable. Bild noted Kim started just 15 Bundesliga matches this season and sat on the bench for key games — including the Champions League quarterfinal against Real Madrid — which left room for frustration. The outlet suggested the World Cup in North America could be a turning point for him.
As vice-captain of South Korea, Kim will face the Czech Republic, Mexico, and South Africa in the group stage. If he shines at the tournament, more clubs are likely to show interest this summer; Bild even suggested Serie A sides like Juventus and AC Milan could make approaches.
Given the current trajectory, Kim is likely to wear Bayern’s shirt next season. He’s stayed calm and professional amid rotation and seems determined to prove his value at one of the game’s best teams.
For now, Kim will focus on helping Bayern chase the Champions League and the DFB-Pokal for the remainder of the season. If Bayern completes the treble, Kim would join Park Ji-sung as one of the few Koreans to win top-league titles three times and would become only the second Korean ever to complete a European treble.
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