Atlético de Madrid have completed the signing of South Korea attacking midfielder Kang-in Lee from Paris Saint-Germain. Both clubs confirmed the transfer on Friday, with the 25-year-old returning to Spanish football three years after leaving Mallorca for the French capital.
The transfer fee is understood to be in the region of €40 million. Kang-in has agreed a five-year contract with the La Liga club and will wear the No. 7 shirt previously held by Antoine Griezmann, who departed earlier this summer after a distinguished spell at the Wanda Metropolitano.
The move addresses Atlético’s urgent need for creativity in midfield following Griezmann’s surprise exit. Kang-in arrives with substantial experience despite his relatively young age, having spent three successful seasons at PSG where he collected an impressive haul of domestic and European silverware.
During his time in Paris, the South Korean made 124 appearances across all competitions, scoring 16 goals and providing the same number of assists. His trophy cabinet includes two Champions League titles, three Ligue 1 championships, two Coupe de France medals and two Trophée des Champions. He also helped the club secure the UEFA Super Cup and Intercontinental Cup during a glittering period for the French giants.
Despite these contributions, Kang-in largely played a supporting role under manager Luis Enrique, often appearing from the substitutes’ bench rather than in the starting eleven. This limited game time prompted his decision to seek regular first-team football elsewhere, with Atlético offering the platform he needs to reignite his career.
The playmaker previously enjoyed a successful spell at Mallorca before his switch to PSG in 2021. His familiarity with the rhythm and physicality of La Liga should ease his transition back to the Spanish top flight, where expectations remain high despite the departure of club legend Griezmann.
The signing represents a significant statement of intent from Atlético as they look to reinforce their squad ahead of the new campaign. Kang-in’s versatility across various attacking positions offers Diego Simeone valuable tactical flexibility, while his technical ability and vision could prove vital in unlocking stubborn defences.
Atlético will hope the South Korean can help bridge the gap to Real Madrid and Barcelona in the domestic title race. His arrival provides fresh impetus to an attacking unit that relied heavily on Griezmann’s ingenuity and creativity during previous campaigns.
The deal concludes a lengthy pursuit by the Madrid club, who identified Kang-in as their primary target to fill the void left by the Frenchman’s departure. With pre-season training already underway, the midfielder could make his debut in the club’s upcoming friendly fixtures before the La Liga season opener.