Atletico Madrid have confirmed the signing of Lee Kang-in from Paris Saint-Germain, with the move completed on 25 July 2026. The fee is reported at up to €40m, made up of a €35m base fee plus around €5m in add-ons, and the South Korea international has signed a five-year contract that ties him to the Metropolitano until June 2031. He takes the number 7 shirt, the number left vacant by Antoine Griezmann, who ended a ten-year Atletico career this summer by joining Orlando City in Major League Soccer.
Atletico had tracked Lee for some time and moved again this summer having already tried to sign him in January. He gives Diego Simeone a left-footed creative option capable of playing as an attacking midfielder through the middle or drifting in from either wing, with the club pointing to his vision, close control and ability to both pass and shoot as reasons for the investment. The move also returns him to La Liga three years after leaving Real Mallorca for Paris, and makes him the first South Korean player to sign for one of the league's traditional big three clubs alongside Real Madrid and Barcelona.
PSG signed Lee from Mallorca in 2023, and he leaves having made 124 appearances, scoring 16 goals and setting up 16 more. His time in Paris brought major honours, including back-to-back Champions League titles in 2025 and 2026, three Ligue 1 titles and two Coupe de France wins among 12 trophies in total. Manager Luis Enrique rated him highly as a versatile squad option and blocked his exit when Atletico first came calling in January. PSG's official statement thanked him for his contribution to the club, and his departure leaves Luis Enrique needing to replace a player who could operate across several attacking positions, even if the Paris squad remains stacked further forward.
Lee's game time had dipped in his third season in Paris, with Luis Enrique increasingly using him as an impact substitute rather than a guaranteed starter. He still contributed regularly when called upon, maintaining a passing accuracy of around 92% in Ligue 1 and continuing to combine goals with assists at a healthy rate for the minutes he played. He also went to the 2026 World Cup with South Korea this summer, adding further match sharpness heading into his move to Spain.
At Atletico, expect Simeone to use Lee as a No. 10 or from either flank in a front line that has lost Griezmann's goal threat and chance creation. His passing range and ability to retain the ball under pressure should suit a team built on control and quick transitions, while his versatility gives Simeone the option to shuffle him between central and wide roles depending on the opponent. How quickly he adapts to a more regular starting role, after a season of largely coming off the bench at PSG, will shape how big an impact he has in his first year at the Metropolitano.