The news has come to Kim Min-jae. Bayern Munich has finalized an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen to sign Jonathan Tah.
German media outlet ‘Kicker’ reported on June 6 (KST), “Munich has completed an agreement in principle to sign Tah. A breakthrough has been made in the negotiations. The transfer fee is 25 million euros (approximately $375 million) plus 5 million euros (approximately $7.5 billion).”
The 2023-24 season was a humiliating one for Munich. Under Thomas Tuchel, the club finished the season without a title, the first time in nearly 16 years since the 2007-08 season. At the end of the season, the club fired Tuchel and appointed Vincent Kompany as the new head coach.
Kompany’s appointment also gave a green light to Kim Min-jae’s competition for the starting role. Kim had been relegated to the bench this season after the arrival of Eric Dier in the winter transfer window. Kompany has been using Kim as his first-choice center back in the preseason.
Kim started and played 55 minutes in the two matches against Tottenham Hotspur at the Coupang Play Series 2024 in South Korea. It was his second consecutive start in the preseason. In the second half, he took over the captain’s armband and earned Kompany’s trust.
But then came the bad news. Munich have finalized an 안전놀이터 agreement to sign Tah. Tah is a German defender. His main position is center back. He”s a 6-foot-2 player who can compete for aerial balls and has the ability to score goals.
He started playing soccer at Concordia and joined the Hamburg SV youth team in 2009. He was promoted to Hamburg’s first team in 2013, and in September 2014, he went on a season-long loan to Fortuna Düsseldorf to earn playing time.
Upon his return from the loan, Tah moved to Leverkusen. In the 2015-16 season, Tah quickly established himself in the first team. After a brief dip in 2019-20, he returned to form and signed a long-term contract extension until 2025 during the 2021-22 season.
This season, Tah has been dominant. He was named to the ESM Team of the Month for the second straight month in September and October. Tah scored four goals and provided one assist in 31 league games to lead Leverkusen to an undefeated title. It was Leverkusen’s first Bundesliga title in 120 years.
Tah’s performances this season have attracted interest from big clubs. Munich were the most interested. Finally, the Bavarians reached an agreement with Leverkusen, who will invest 45 billion won in the transfer fee. Tah will compete with Kim Min-jae for the starting role in Munich.
However, in order for Tah to move, the player must be sold. Munich must sell Matthias der Licht before Ta can move. “It’s not a done deal yet,” Kicker said. It depends on the sale of Der Licht and then we will confirm the signing of Tah,” Kicker added.
