"Unprecedented special treatment" Lee Kang-in holds signing ceremony in front of over 50,000 Korean fans [Seoul Olympic Stadium]

*This content was translated by AI.

Lee Kang-in (25), who has joined the Spanish powerhouse Atlético (AT) Madrid, held his signing ceremony in front of Korean fans rather than in Spain. It is an unusual occurrence for a signing ceremony to be held in Korea instead of at the club's home stadium or among local supporters.

Lee Kang-in's signing ceremony with AT Madrid took place on the field after the 2026 Coupang Play Series match against Manchester City concluded at Seoul World Cup Stadium on the 9th. David Villa, a Spanish football legend, attended Lee Kang-in's signing ceremony. At the event, Lee Kang-in received from Villa an AT jersey bearing his new number 7 and his name in Hangul (강인).

Lee Kang-in's move from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to AT Madrid was officially confirmed on the 25th of last month. The contract spans five years, with a transfer fee reaching up to 40 million euros (approximately 6.53 billion won). However, Lee Kang-in remained in Korea due to documentation issues related to his military service exemption. Although Lee Kang-in's signing with AT Madrid was finalized, no photos of the signing released from Spain were made public for the same reason.

While Lee Kang-in was stranded in Korea, coincidentally, AT Madrid traveled to South Korea for the already scheduled Coupang Play Series match, confirming his team integration in Korea. Following AT Madrid's instructions, Lee Kang-in had been adjusting his fitness through individual training in Korea. On the 7th, he joined the squad for the first time and met with head coach Diego Simeone and other teammates after his transfer.

Lee Kang-in, who made his AT Madrid debut in front of Korean fans, decided to hold his signing ceremony there as well. This unprecedented event was organized for Korean fans before Lee Kang-in joined the club at its home stadium, Riyadh Air Metropolitano.

Coupang Play stated, "This historic moment came from Coupang Play's sincere desire to share Lee Kang-in's new beginning with fans and the club's intention to welcome their newly acquired ace in his hometown first." They added, "It holds unusual symbolic significance even in the global football world. Wearing the number 7 jersey of a world-class club and holding a signing ceremony in front of Korean fans before arriving at the local home stadium is an unprecedented special treatment in the club's history."

An unusual signing ceremony took place on the field after all matches concluded. Lee Kang-in said, "Thank you for coming despite the hot weather. I have joined a great club at a good time following my transfer, and I will do my best to show even better performances going forward."

Continuing, Lee Kang-in added, "I hope everyone will continue to support both Atlético Madrid and the national team. I am sincerely grateful for your presence today, and I truly thank Coupang and Atlético for organizing such a special (signing ceremony)." He concluded, "As a player and as a person, I will always strive to improve and give my best to deliver excellent performances."

Following this, Kim Sung-han, CEO of Coupang Play, personally presented Lee Kang-in with a bouquet of flowers. The approximately 50,000 spectators who visited the stadium that day did not leave immediately after the match ended; instead, they stayed until the end of Lee Kang-in's signing ceremony to offer congratulatory applause. The signing ceremony for AT Madrid's new 'No.7', Lee Kang-in, concluded.

<© STARNEWS. All rights reserved. No reproduction or redistribution allowed.>

*This content was translated by AI.