Lee Kang-in Joins Atletico Madrid in €40m PSG Transfer
Atletico Madrid have completed the signing of South Korea midfielder Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain. The 25-year-old has agreed a contract running until June 2031 after three trophy-filled seasons in France.
Lee Completes Atletico Move
Atletico and PSG reached an agreement for Lee's transfer, with the deal reportedly worth up to €40m. The Spanish club confirmed the midfielder has signed a five-year contract and will wear the number seven shirt.
Lee returns to Spain three years after leaving Mallorca for PSG. He previously spent time at Valencia, making 62 senior appearances before joining Mallorca in 2021. The South Korean then established himself as one of LaLiga's most exciting creative players. He made 73 appearances across two seasons at Mallorca before earning his move to the French champions.
Lee spent three seasons in Paris, making 124 appearances across all competitions. He scored 16 goals and provided 16 assists while collecting 12 major trophies with the French club.
Trophy-Laden Spell in Paris
Lee's time at PSG delivered considerable success, including two consecutive Champions League titles. He also won three Ligue 1 titles, two French Cups and two French Super Cups. His trophy collection also included the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup. Lee became only the second South Korean player to win the Champions League, following Manchester United legend Park Ji-sung.
Despite his success, Lee's playing time in major European matches was sometimes limited. His move to Atletico now offers an opportunity to become a more prominent figure at another elite European club. The 25-year-old arrives with considerable technical quality and tactical flexibility. Atletico describe him as a left-footed midfielder capable of operating centrally or from either wing.
World Cup Experience
Lee also represented South Korea at the 2026 World Cup in North America. He played in all three of his country's group-stage matches as South Korea failed to advance to the knockout rounds. His standout performance came during the 2-1 victory over Czechia. Lee provided an assist, completed five dribbles and won four fouls during the match.
That combination of five successful dribbles and four fouls won was particularly notable. No player at the 2022 World Cup managed to record both figures in a single match. Lee has now earned 50 senior caps for South Korea. He has scored 11 international goals and provided 14 assists, according to the latest figures supplied by Atletico.
Atletico's New Number Seven
Lee arrives as Atletico look to strengthen their attacking options following Antoine Griezmann's departure. The Frenchman left the club as Atletico's all-time leading scorer after an illustrious spell in Madrid. Atletico finished fourth in LaLiga last season and reached the Copa del Rey final. Lee's creativity could provide another dimension as Diego Simeone's side target a stronger campaign.
The midfielder's return to Spain also marks a significant personal opportunity. Having already won Europe's biggest club competition twice, he now faces the challenge of becoming a leading player at Atletico.
What's Next?
Lee will join his new teammates during Atletico's preparations for the 2026-27 campaign. The club's preseason schedule includes friendly matches against Getafe, Manchester United, Manchester City and Marseille.
Atletico begin their LaLiga season at home against newly promoted Malaga on August 19. Lee will hope to make an immediate impact as the club's new number seven.