Finally official! Lee Kang-in's move to Atletico confirmed: "5-year contract"... Return to La Liga after three years + First Korean to join 'La Liga's Big Three'

*This content was translated by AI.

The long-awaited "official" announcement for Lee Kang-in (25) has finally arrived. Lee Kang-in has left Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to wear the Atletico Madrid jersey, marking his return to Spain's La Liga after three years.

On the 25th (Korean time), Atletico Madrid officially announced the signing of Lee Kang-in through its club social media (SNS). The contract runs until June 30, 2031, for a total of five years. He will wear the number "7" jersey, symbolizing the team's ace.

In announcing Lee Kang-in's signing, the club praised his broad vision, precise ball control, versatility as a midfielder, and exceptional passing and shooting abilities. It also highlighted his national team experience. Atletico stated, "Lee Kang-in led South Korea to the runner-up position and won the Golden Ball at the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup, and secured a gold medal at the 2023 Asian Games." The club added, "He has recently appeared in 50 matches for the senior national team, including the recent CONCACAF Nations League and World Cup qualifiers."

According to local media, Lee Kang-in's transfer fee includes a base of 35 million euros plus an optional 5 million euros, totaling 40 million euros (approximately 66.5 billion won). This makes him the second-most expensive Korean player in history, following Kim Min-jae's 50 million euro (about 83.1 billion won) move from Napoli to Bayern Munich in 2023. It significantly surpasses Son Heung-min (LAFC), who was transferred to Tottenham Hotspur for 30 million euros (49.8 billion won) in 2015, which previously held the third spot.

With this transfer, Lee Kang-in becomes the first Korean player to join Atletico Madrid's first team, one of La Liga's three major clubs alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona.

Lee Kang-in's adaptation to the Spanish stage is expected to be smooth. He joined Valencia's youth team in 2011 at age 10 and made his first-team debut in the 2018 Copa del Rey. He later moved to Mallorca in 2021, where he played a key role for two seasons. Over five seasons in Spain, he recorded 135 official matches with 10 goals, including 110 La Liga appearances and nine goals.

Atletico has been monitoring Lee Kang-in for several years, given his proven track record in Spain. The pursuit intensified this summer after key striker Antoine Griezmann (now with Orlando City) moved to the United States.

Lee Kang-in also required a guaranteed playing time. During his three seasons at PSG, he contributed 16 goals and 16 assists in 124 matches, winning numerous trophies including two UEFA Champions League titles and three Ligue 1 championships. However, he did not fully establish himself as an undisputed starter. Now, under the full trust of renowned manager Diego Simeone, who has long desired his services, Lee Kang-in is ready to take center stage in the familiar La Liga environment.

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*This content was translated by AI.