Kim Min-jae wins AFC Asian International Player of the Year award

The centre-back joined Bayern Munich last summer

After winning the Scudetto with Napoli in the previous season, Kim Min-jae was awarded the AFC Asian International Player of the Year on Tuesday.

Kim, who is currently playing for Bayern Munich, is the second-ever Korean to win the Asian Football Confederation's yearly prize for the best Asian footballer in a foreign league. Son Heung-min of Tottenham Hotspur has received the honour three times: in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

After spending a year in the Super Lig with Turkish club Fenerbahce, Kim joined Napoli in July of last year to cover for Kalidou Koulibaly, who went for Chelsea.

Kim was a natural fit for the starting lineup, winning September's Serie A Player of the Month award and going on to be a consistent starter in the first Napoli team to win a Serie A championship in almost thirty years.

Kim accumulated a slew of awards by the conclusion of the time of year, including Player of the Month twice (from Serie A in September and the Italian Footballer's Association in October), Serie A Squad of the Season, best defender in Serie A, and even the continental team of the European Sports Media.

In addition, that one season Kim became the most accomplished Korean football player to have ever played in Serie A. During the summer, elite teams competed to activate Kim's limited release provision, while Napoli sought to permanently close that door.

Bayern prevailed in that contest, defeating Manchester United, who had been connected to a potential Kim transfer since last year. Tottenham Hotspur was also a contender; they had previously attempted to get Kim while he was based in China, but they were unable to mount a credible defence against Bayern's offer.

He was also nominated for the Ballon d'Or during the Napoli season. This week on Monday, he placed 22nd in the top football honour position, making him the second-highest-placing Asian.