Kim Min-Jae is on his way to Bayern Munich after they trumped Manchester United in the race to sign him. Kim Min-Jae’s release clause made him a hot property this summer, which came after a glittering season.
The reigning Serie A Defender of the Year has agreed to a five-year contract with the Bavarian giants and the release clause means they have bagged arguably the bargain of the transfer window.
So, what is the Kim Min-Jae release clause, and when and how does it come into effect? Here’s all you need to know-
Kim Min-Jae release clause
The Napoli defender signed for Napoli from Fenerbahce just last year as the replacement for Kalidou Koulibaly.
Kim Min-Jae’s release clause in his contract stated that there is a 15-day window, from July 1 to July 15, where he can leave the club for around £43 million.
What looked like an innocuous clause at the time has since turned into world football’s best bargain.
The Napoli man went on to have a masterful season, becoming the Serie A Defender of the Year as Napoli won their first title since the 1989/90 season.
He didn’t just replace Koulibaly, he exceeded expectations and became the first name on the teamsheet.
His combination of physical dominance, and elegance with the ball made him a hot property.
Once the title with Napoli was won, it couldn’t get much better for him. Combined with the minuscule release clause compared to his talents, it was a matter of when, and not if he left Napoli.
Manchester United were credited with initial interest but it never went further. Bayern Munich then jumped into the race, acted proactively, and within a week, have now reached a verbal agreement with the defender.
However, as stated earlier, Kim Min-Jae’s release clause only comes into effect from July 1st. Bayern cannot take this move any further before that date.
Therefore, the Bundesliga champions will have to face a nervous wait for two days, hoping no other club comes with a more enticing salary proposal. If they do, it will be up to Kim Min-Jae to decide his destination, as the release clause would be triggered by multiple clubs.
However, it seems unlikely that it will happen. Various reports have suggested that the South Korean wants only Bayern at this point. Even if another club arrives with a late bid, the German giants are now firm favourites for his signature.
They are about to lose Lucas Hernandez to PSG, with Benjamin Pavard also heading close to the exit door.
Fortunately for them, Kim Min-Jae has made a habit of replacing experienced professionals without any hiccups. Expect the same to happen at Allianz Arena.
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