Lee Kang-in's Impact Before Debut with Atletico Madrid
Lee Kang-in, the new South Korean signing for Atletico Madrid, is already making waves in Spain before even
Lee Kang-in, the South Korean footballer who recently made a high-profile move from Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) to Atletico Madrid for $40 million, is facing delays in his debut with the Spanish club. The 25-year-old is currently in South Korea completing necessary administrative procedures related to his military exemption.
According to Spanish media outlet Marca, Lee has been granted military exemption as a reward for winning the gold medal in men's football at the 2023 Asian Games. However, he still needs to finalize certain paperwork and is awaiting an extension of his exit permit.
If Lee can complete these formalities promptly, he could travel to Spain immediately. However, if there are further delays, the winger will remain in South Korea while awaiting his chance to join Atletico. The Madrid-based team is scheduled to play a friendly against Manchester United in Sweden on August 1, followed by a match against Manchester City in South Korea on August 9.
To maintain his fitness during this waiting period, Lee is currently training with FC Seoul. Previously, he and the South Korean national team were eliminated in the group stage of the 2026 World Cup.
Lee Kang-in has a rich history in Spanish football, having spent six years at Valencia's academy before playing for their first team from 2018 to 2021. He then moved to Mallorca from 2021 to 2023 before joining PSG, where he made 124 appearances, scored 16 goals, and won 12 titles, including two Champions League trophies and three Ligue 1 titles.
With the South Korean national team, Lee has played 50 matches and scored 11 goals. Notably, in 2023, he helped the U23 team defeat Japan 2-1 in the final of the men's football event at the Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.
Atletico Madrid signed Lee Kang-in with the expectation that he would fill the void left by Antoine Griezmann, who recently concluded a nine-year career at the Metropolitano Stadium. In addition to Lee, Atletico also invested $68 million to acquire Alex Grimaldo from Bayer Leverkusen and Morten Hjulmand from Sporting.
