Atletico Madrid have reached an agreement with Paris Saint-Germain to sign South Korea international Lee Kang-in for a fee understood to be just over €40 million, according to RMC Sport.
The 25-year-old playmaker is expected to leave the French champions two years before his contract expires after struggling to secure a regular starting role under manager Luis Enrique. The deal marks the culmination of a long-running pursuit by the Spanish side, who were heavily linked with the player last summer only for Enrique to insist on retaining him for the campaign.
Deal structure and PSG spell
The reported fee exceeds €40m including performance-related bonuses, representing a significant investment for the Madrid club as they look to add creativity to their attacking unit. Lee originally joined PSG from Valencia in 2023 but has largely operated as a squad rotation player during his two seasons in Paris.
Despite featuring 39 times across all competitions last season, the midfielder started just 18 Ligue 1 matches and did not make a single start in the UEFA Champions League. He nonetheless collected winners’ medals as PSG secured back-to-back European titles, adding to their domestic honours.
Over his entire PSG career, Lee has made 124 appearances, contributing 16 goals and 16 assists. However, his limited involvement in the club’s continental success has fuelled speculation regarding his desire for a more prominent role elsewhere.
Atletico’s persistence pays off
Atletico first attempted to sign Lee 12 months ago but were rebuffed as Enrique blocked the departure. With the South Korean continuing to find himself on the periphery of the first team, the Spanish club have revived their interest and successfully negotiated a transfer that suits all parties.
The move offers Lee the prospect of regular first-team football in La Liga, with the technically gifted attacker viewed as a versatile option capable of operating across the forward line or in central creative positions.
Next steps
The agreement between the clubs represents a significant step toward completion of the transfer. The move is now expected to proceed to the medical and personal terms stage, after which the deal can be formally announced.
If completed, the transfer would see Lee depart PSG two years ahead of schedule, ending a spell that promised much but delivered limited opportunities for the former Valencia prospect.