Official: Bayern Munich sign youth left back Doyeon Kim

29 May 2024, Bavaria, Munich: The FC Bayern Munich logo can be seen at the Säbener Straße office. FC Bayern is reportedly close to signing coach Vincent Kompany. Photo: Sven Hoppe/dpa (Photo by Sven Hoppe/picture alliance via Getty Images)

Bayern Munich’s summer transfer window sees another talent join their U-23s. This time, the Bavarians’ confirmed via their official website that they have signed South Korean left back Doyeon Kim, who arrives from Daejon Hana Citizen. The South Korean team, who play in the East Asian country’s top division (the K-League 1), will part with their youth academy product for an undisclosed transfer fee. He will join up with head coach Dante’s squad and provide valuable depth at left back.

Campus sporting director Michael Wiesinger had this to say: “Doyeon trained with us as a guest player for some time and was able to recommend himself for a transfer to our team. We have had good experiences with young players from South Korea in recent years and are convinced that Doyeon will also take the next step in his development in our second team.”

Kim joins goalkeeper Jae-won Heo as the second South Korean signing of the summer, signaling the strong understanding Bayern have with multiple South Korean teams and the emerging benefits of such an understanding. It is preferable, after all, to be able to see a player up close and personal before signing them. Bayern had the opportunity to do so with both players and saw enough in them to bring them to Munich.

There, Kim will join Bayern’s youth academy, one in need of left backs. In the U-19s, winger Skender Nuraj has been retooled into the only left back in the squad. The U-23s can boast just Richard Ajayi as a left back. Clearly, more reinforcement in the position was necessary and arrives via Kim. Whether this signing will push Ajayi back to the U-19s or if Kim will spend some time with the U-19s remains to be seen.

Finally, Bayern released an article on their website introducing the youngster. Some excerpts from the article can be read below:

From a K-League club to Munich: Doyeon Kim is set to bolster the left side of the FC Bayern reserves’ defence. The 18-year-old South Korean has moved from Daejeon Hana Citizen to the banks of the Isar.

Kim is a modern full-back who feels most at home on the left flank. Whether playing with or against the ball, he interprets his role as one that involves putting in a lot of legwork, constantly helping out defensively whilst switching just as decisively to support the attack. At the same time, he consistently looks to get into space where ha can receive the ball and likes to make pacy runs down the left wing.

In early 2021, Kim joined Daejon Hana Citizen and progressed through all the youth teams from the U15s upwards; prior to that, the left-back had played for Hannam University Youth FC. For Daejon Hana Citizen, the 18-year-old most recently made one appearance for the U18s and had already been included in this season’s first-team squad in South Korea’s top flight, the K-League 1. Kim has represented his country at youth level a total of 22 times. As well as appearances for the U15s and U16s, he most recently played for the U17s, featuring in the AFC U17 Asian Cup and the U17 World Cup with that side, gathering his first taste of international football. Kim is now aiming to take the next step in his development in Europe with his move to the German record champions.

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Indexed and credited by AIPROPX. Originating outlet: Yahoo Sports. Open at source →