Bayern Munich announced the signing of Germany national team defender Tah on their official website on the 29th (Korean time). Tah, who transferred on a free contract from Bayer Leverkusen, is contracted until June 2029 and has been assigned the number 4.

The club expressed optimism, stating, "Tah is a top-tier defender in Europe and will inject new strength into our defense."

The club's leadership also did not hide their expectations for Tah. Chief Executive Officer Jan Christian Dresen emphasized, "A player with a winning DNA has joined Munich. With his experience and skills, he will elevate our defense to the next level," while Director General Max Eberl noted, "We have been observing Tah for a long time. I am very satisfied with his choice."

The problem is that Tah's arrival directly impacts Kim Min-jae's standing. Multiple local media outlets have projected that one of Munich's major goals this summer is financial stability through team reorganization, and in that process, Kim Min-jae could be a transfer target. Gol.com and 90min reported, "Tah's signing indicates that Kim Min-jae's future has become uncertain," and stated that "Bayern Munich aims for a revenue of 100 million euros (approximately 1.56 trillion won), and Kim Min-jae could be traded for a transfer fee between 30 million euros and 35 million euros (approximately 46.6 billion won to 54.5 billion won)."

Kim Min-jae quickly secured a starting position after his transfer from SSC Napoli to Bayern Munich last summer. However, he showed inconsistent performance in the latter part of the season due to an Achilles tendon issue and fatigue, particularly faltering in build-up play and positioning. As crucial mistakes increased during key moments, his evaluation began to diverge.

Recently, Kim Min-jae did not appear in Bayern Munich's open training, further fueling transfer rumors. Local media reported, "He is increasingly distancing himself from the core plans for Munich next season." Sport Bild asserted, "Tah's signing is not merely to fill the void left by Diaye. It seems Munich is already taking steps to part ways with Kim Min-jae."

British soccer journalist Paul O'Keefe added another variable to the situation. He stated, "Munich has shown interest in England national team defender Marc Guehi from Crystal Palace," and analyzed, "If Guehi joins, Kim Min-jae could completely fall out of the starting competition." He added, "As it stands, Kim Min-jae cannot even guarantee being the first backup."

The FIFA Club World Cup is also a factor. Ahead of the tournament taking place in the U.S. in June, Munich has been pushing for the early inclusion of Tah, who has outstanding match readiness. Although Tah was in a state before his contract expiration with Leverkusen, Bayern Munich seems to have finalized contract arrangements either through transfer fees or compensation. While the stated preparation is for the Club World Cup, it may soon imply a sacrifice on the part of one of the current center-back resources.

Initially, Tah was expected to head to Barcelona, but negotiations broke down due to Barcelona's financial difficulties, leading Munich to take decisive action to sign him. Bayern Munich swiftly seized Tah based on agility in the transfer market and is quickly fitting the pieces of the defensive rebuilding puzzle.

All these developments are not favorable for Kim Min-jae. In his first season in the Bundesliga, Kim Min-jae played many matches but gradually saw his playing time diminish, and he faced criticism for frequent mistakes in the latter half. It is clear that Kim Min-jae is still regarded as an attractive card in the transfer market.

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