Lee Kang-In joins Atletico Madrid from PSG on deal through 2031
Atletico Madrid said South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-In will move from PSG, with reports putting the fee at €35m to €40m.
By Lucas Ferreira · Science & Environment Writer
2 min read
Lee Kang-In Atletico Madrid is now a completed move after the Spanish club said the South Korea midfielder had agreed to join from Paris Saint-Germain. Atletico said Saturday that Lee is set to sign a contract running through June 2031, adding a World Cup player to a squad coming off a fourth-place La Liga finish.
The club did not announce the transfer fee. The Associated Press reported that the price has been put between 35 million and 40 million euros, or about $39.8 million to $45.5 million.
Lee, 25, arrives after three seasons at PSG. According to the AP, he scored 16 goals in 124 appearances for the French club after joining in 2023.
How long is Lee Kang-In's Atletico Madrid contract?
Atletico Madrid said Lee would be under contract until June 2031. That gives the club a long-term attacking midfield option as it reshapes its squad after Antoine Griezmann’s departure.
The AP reported that Griezmann has left for Major League Soccer. He departs Atletico as the club’s all-time leading scorer, leaving a need for players who can create and finish chances in the final third.
Lee’s move also brings him back to the country where he began his European football development. Born in Incheon, South Korea, he moved to Spain at age 10 to enter Valencia’s academy, the AP reported.
He went on to make 62 appearances for Valencia before playing for Mallorca, according to the AP. His spell at Mallorca came before his 2023 transfer to PSG.
What did Lee Kang-In do at the World Cup?
Lee played in all three of South Korea’s group-stage matches at the World Cup, the AP reported. South Korea did not reach the knockout rounds after losing twice in the group phase.
His international profile adds to Atletico’s midfield options as the club prepares for the next season. Atletico finished fourth in La Liga last season and reached the Copa del Rey final, according to the AP.
The deal gives Lee another spell in Spanish football after earlier stops at Valencia and Mallorca. For Atletico, the signing adds a 25-year-old midfielder with experience in Spain, France and World Cup competition.
This story draws on original reporting from Al Jazeera.