Jeju SK Goalkeeper Heo Jae-won Joins Bayern Munich on Six-Month Loan with Option to Buy

Heo Jae-won (18) of K League 1 side Jeju SK has become the first South Korean goalkeeper to move directly to a major European league.

Jeju announced today (July 31) that "goalkeeper Heo Jae-won, a product of our youth academy, is moving to German Bundesliga side Bayern Munich on a loan transfer."

The club added, "The loan period is six months until January 2027, with the contract including an option for a permanent transfer if certain conditions are met."

Heo's transfer marks the first time a player produced by Jeju's youth system has made a direct move to a top-tier European club.

It also marks the first advancement of a South Korean goalkeeper to Europe in 17 years, following Kwon Jung-hyuk's move to the Finnish league in 2009.

In particular, Heo is the first South Korean goalkeeper to move directly to a club in one of Europe's major leagues (England, Spain, Germany, France, and Italy).

This transfer is also the first major achievement of the Jeju SK-R&G partnership established in September 2025.

R&G is a global youth development platform jointly established in 2023 by Bayern Munich—where South Korean national team central defender Kim Min-jae plays—and Los Angeles (LA) FC of Major League Soccer (MLS), the club of forward Son Heung-min. Jeju is the first partner club in Asia.

Heo received training for one month at the Munich Campus through the R&G program in January of this year.

In June, he became the first Jeju youth product to be selected for the Munich World Squad 2026, participating in training and practice matches in Jeju, Paju, and Germany.

Bayern Munich reportedly decided to sign Heo by highly evaluating his growth rate and adaptability demonstrated during the two training call-ups.

Standing at 195 cm and weighing 83 kg, Heo was named to the final roster for the 2025 Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) U-17 World Cup national team, gaining recognition for his potential.

Ahead of this season, he signed a semi-professional contract with Jeju, laying the groundwork for his entry into the professional ranks.

An entrance ceremony for Heo's signing with Munich is scheduled to be held during halftime of the friendly match between Jeju and Munich at the Jeju World Cup Stadium at 8 p.m. on August 4.

(Photo provided by Jeju SK, Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.