Kang-In Lee to Atlético Madrid — confirmed announcement expected this week.
Transfer fee around €35 million, a five-year contract until June 2031, and a return to La Liga after three seasons at PSG. Here is everything we know: the deal terms, why he is leaving Paris, and what comes next.
Table of Contents
- Current Status (as of July 1, 2026 KST)
- Transfer Deal Details
- Why Kang-In Lee Is Leaving PSG
- Why Atlético Madrid Wants Him
- Key Upcoming Dates
- Historic Significance for Korean Football
- A Fan's Perspective
1. Current Status (as of July 1, 2026 KST)
Atlético Madrid officially announced the signing of Álex Grimaldo on a four-year deal on July 1, opening their summer transfer window. Immediately after the announcement, Cadena SER journalist Pedro Fullana — who covers Atlético closely — named Kang-In Lee as the club's next signing.
Spanish media outlets expect the official announcement within this week. According to Foot Mercato, Atlético has made Lee its top transfer priority, personal terms are already agreed, and only the signature remains. The contract will run until June 30, 2031.
2. Transfer Deal Details
Transfer fee: approximately €35 million (base fee of €30M plus add-ons; final figure expected between €30–35M)
Contract: 5 years, through June 30, 2031
Type: Permanent transfer
PSG's replacement: Per Fabrizio Romano, PSG has identified AS Monaco's Maghnes Akliouche as Lee's replacement.
Combined with Grimaldo's €20 million fee, Atlético's opening double signing totals roughly €55 million. PSG's valuation of Lee is viewed in Spain as reasonable and in line with market expectations.
3. Why Kang-In Lee Is Leaving PSG
Lee joined PSG from Mallorca in the summer of 2023 for €22 million. Over three seasons in Paris, he made 124 appearances, scoring 16 goals with 16 assists.
The problem was playing time at the very top level. During PSG's victorious 2025-26 Champions League campaign, Lee did not start a single one of the 10 knockout-stage matches. With Ousmane Dembélé, Désiré Doué, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, and Bradley Barcola all competing for attacking spots, a guaranteed starting role never materialized.
Lee also received offers from Premier League clubs but chose a return to La Liga, the league where he developed at Valencia and broke out at Mallorca.
4. Why Atlético Madrid Wants Him
Atlético had targeted Lee as the ideal successor to Antoine Griezmann even before Griezmann's move to Orlando City in MLS last March.
Sporting director Mateu Alemany has known Lee since his Valencia academy days and rates his technique and tactical intelligence highly — a versatile piece who can operate both centrally and wide in Diego Simeone's system.
There is a commercial dimension, too. Club officials witnessed Lee's enormous drawing power first-hand during a preseason tour of South Korea: sold-out stadiums, unprecedented media attention, and commercial interest from global brands such as Samsung, Kia, and Hyundai.
5. Key Upcoming Dates
| Date | Event |
|---|
| Early July 2026 | Official announcement expected (per Marca and AS) |
| August 5 | Coupang Play Series Game 1 — Team K League vs Manchester City, Seoul World Cup Stadium |
| August 9 | Coupang Play Series Game 2 — Manchester City vs Atlético Madrid, Seoul. If confirmed, Lee could make his first appearance in Atlético colors in front of his home fans |
| August 16 | 2026-27 La Liga opener — Atlético vs Málaga at Riyadh Air Metropolitano |
| September | First Madrid Derby of the season (home) — Lee's first taste of Atlético vs Real Madrid |
| November / February | Atlético vs FC Barcelona (home / away) |
| April 2027 | Madrid Derby return leg at the Santiago Bernabéu |
| May 30, 2027 | End of the 2026-27 La Liga season |
6. Historic Significance for Korean Football
This move is a milestone for Korean football: Kang-In Lee becomes the first Korean player to wear the shirt of Atlético Madrid, one of Spain's "Big Three" alongside Real Madrid and FC Barcelona.
Atlético has also officially announced the creation of its first official supporters' club in Korea — Peña Atlética La Osa de Corea del Sur — signaling a serious push into the Korean and wider Asian market that will run in parallel with Lee's arrival.
7. A Fan's Perspective
When Lee first moved from Mallorca to PSG, it felt like a dream — sharing a pitch with Neymar and Mbappé, even from the bench, was something special. But three years on, PSG's attacking depth remains overwhelming while Lee's minutes have not grown. Moving to Atlético, where a genuine starting role is within reach under Simeone, feels like the right step rather than a step back.
After a demanding World Cup campaign with South Korea, some rest and then a possible debut in Seoul at the Coupang Play Series in August? That would be the perfect script. Time to get an Atlético shirt ready.
Editor's note: This article was written on July 1, 2026 (KST). Following Grimaldo's official announcement on July 1, Lee's announcement is expected within the week. This post will be updated as soon as the deal is confirmed.
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