Lee Kang-in actually reached a personal agreement with the club in January; he will leave PSG as soon as the transfer fee is settled... Formal negotiations to begin after the World Cup

*This content was translated by AI.

South Korea's "Golden Boy" Lee Kang-in (25) is reported to have decided on a transfer long ago. It is increasingly likely that he will leave his current club, Paris Saint-Germain (France, PSG), this summer.

French local media Parisien reported on the 21st (Korean time): "Transfer negotiations for Lee Kang-in could progress rapidly. According to football journalist Romain Colle-Gaudin, Lee Kang-in of the South Korean national team has agreed on contract terms with Atletico Madrid (Spain) for a summer transfer. This marks a significant development in the ongoing discussions within PSG regarding Lee Kang-in's potential departure."

The key now is the transfer fee negotiation between PSG and Atletico. This, too, is expected to gain momentum soon. According to reports, PSG may accept a proposal with a base transfer fee of 30 million euros (approximately 53 billion won) including bonus clauses. This amount is lower than the 35th million euros (approximately 62 billion won) recently mentioned by several Spanish media outlets. It is interpreted as PSG being willing to move one step back in negotiations.

Atletico has shown interest in acquiring Lee Kang-in for a long time. Although Lee Kang-in has been linked with English Premier League clubs Newcastle and Aston Villa, he is now being evaluated as a strong candidate for his next destination due to Atletico's sustained interest.

Parisien also stated, "Atletico appears to be the club furthest ahead in this matter. Atletico has been monitoring Lee Kang-in for several months and highly values his profile. Atletico manager Diego Simeone views Lee Kang-in as a valuable addition who can bring creativity, high work rate, and versatility to the attack."

Lee Kang-in has not turned a blind eye to Atletico's interest. Some local media have even claimed that Lee Kang-in has already reached a personal agreement with Atletico and is planning a transfer this summer.

Earlier, French outlet Get French Football News reported, "Lee Kang-in is close to returning to the Spanish stage. He already agreed on personal terms for a summer transfer with Atletico during the January winter transfer window." It further added, "Lee Kang-in has been considering leaving for a team that needs him more, as he has not secured a starting position under PSG manager Luis Enrique."

Get French Football News stated, "What remains now is only the transfer fee negotiation between PSG and Atletico. However, the transfer fee negotiations and final procedures are expected to formally begin only after the 2026 FIFA CONCACAF World Cup concludes."

Parisien also noted, "While the player's personal agreement with Atletico is a significant development, not everything has been finalized yet. PSG and Atletico must now agree on the financial conditions of the transfer." It emphasized, "What is clear is that Lee Kang-in's future is increasingly being drawn away from Parc des Princes."

Key player Lee Kang-in of the South Korean national football team left Mallorca in Spain in 2023 to join PSG. Since then, he has played in various positions as a rotational player, but there have been shortcomings in terms of playing time and role within the team. He has not often been selected to start in big matches like the UEFA Champions League (UCL), and in major games, he has frequently been used as a substitute in the second half.

Get French Football News also pointed out, "Lee Kang-in has appeared in 39 matches across all competitions in the 2025-2026 season. However, he started in only 19 matches and recorded 9 attacking points, with 4 goals and 5 assists."

Returning to Spain is not a strange choice for Lee Kang-in. Lee Kang-in is a product of Valencia's youth system, made his professional debut with Valencia's first team, and later played as a key player at Mallorca, raising his value in La Liga. There is no major concern about adaptation even if he wears the Atletico jersey.

PSG is also preparing for the possibility of Lee Kang-in's departure. Parisien reported, "From PSG's perspective, if Lee Kang-in leaves, there is a high likelihood they will need to strengthen that position. Several potential signings are being discussed, including Magnus Akliouche of AS Monaco, who is highly rated by manager Luis Enrique."

Akliouche is a young midfielder born in 2002 who has grown into a Monaco starter despite his young age. He also participated in this CONCACAF World Cup as a member of the French national team.

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*This content was translated by AI.