The player many expected to leave Bayern Munich over the summer is now the one keeping Tah out of the biggest games.

Kim, who cost €50m from SSC Napoli in 2023 and had become an open transfer candidate after two underwhelming seasons, started against RB Leipzig and against Arsenal this autumn with Tah left on the bench for both.

The speed numbers tell part of the story. Kim’s season high in the Bundesliga is 33.5 km/h, according to figures published by Goal, ahead of Dayot Upamecano on 33.41 km/h and well clear of Tah on 32.02 km/h.

Kompany opened a race Tah thought he had won

When Tah joined on a free transfer from Bayer Leverkusen in 2025, he arrived as Bayern’s expected defensive anchor, the Germany international handed the second centre-back role alongside Upamecano. Vincent Kompany has rotated the spot considerably more than he did last season, and Kim is the player benefiting.

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Kompany has refused to crown a first choice.

“Let’s not put everything in such absolute terms,” he told reporters, in comments carried by Goal.

Tah has not pushed back in public.

“The coach decides who starts. Far more important is how I deal with it and that I’m ready,” the German said, speaking to the same outlet.

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Danks takes charge while Kompany recovers

The timing is awkward for Kim. He pulled up with a groin problem at half time of the 2-2 Champions League draw with Arsenal on 21 October and sat out Sunday’s 3-1 win at Freiburg, where Tah partnered Upamecano. He returned to the bench for Wednesday’s 6-1 DFB-Pokal rout of Magdeburg.

Kompany is not in the dugout to make Saturday’s call himself. The Belgian collapsed at a training session on 23 October and was discharged from hospital this Wednesday after a diagnosis of meningeal irritation, with Bayern saying his return will be measured in weeks, not days. Assistant Aaron Danks is in charge in the meantime.

Danks has signalled that Kim is close to being available again, grouping the South Korean with midfielder Aleksandar Pavlovic as “certainly a bit closer” to a return.

Bayern face Borussia Dortmund in Der Klassiker on Saturday with both sides level on 17 points at the top of the Bundesliga, before a Champions League trip to Atletico Madrid on matchday four on Tuesday. Kick-off at the Allianz Arena is at 6:30pm local time on Saturday.

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