Atletico Madrid have signed South Korean midfielder Lee Kang-In from Paris Saint-Germain on a contract through June 2031. The Spanish club confirmed the deal on Saturday, with reports placing the transfer fee between €35 million and €40 million ($39.8m–$45.5m).
Lee Kang-In’s career path to Atletico
The 25-year-old began his professional journey in Spain, joining Valencia’s youth academy at age 10 after moving from his hometown of Incheon. He made 62 first-team appearances for Valencia before a loan spell at Mallorca, where he impressed enough to earn a move to PSG in 2023. In France, Lee scored 16 goals across 124 matches, establishing himself as a versatile attacking midfielder.
At the 2022 World Cup, Lee featured in all three of South Korea’s group-stage games, though the team failed to advance past the first round. His performances in Europe have drawn comparisons to former Atletico playmaker Antoine Griezmann, who departed for Inter Miami this summer as the club’s all-time top scorer.
What the transfer means for Atletico Madrid
Atletico finished fourth in La Liga last season and reached the Copa del Rey final, narrowly missing out on silverware. Lee’s arrival is expected to fill the creative void left by Griezmann, with manager Diego Simeone likely to deploy him in an advanced midfield role. His ability to link play and provide assists could be crucial as Atletico push for a top-three finish in 2024-25.
The club has not disclosed whether Lee will wear a specific number, but he is set to join pre-season training in the coming weeks. Fans will watch closely to see how quickly he adapts to Simeone’s system, with his first competitive appearance likely in the league opener against Girona on August 18.
