Lee Kang-in has officially joined Atletico Madrid after leaving Paris Saint-Germain, expressing his ambition to win titles in the upcoming season during a public signing ceremony in Madrid.
On August 18, Lee stated, "I am very happy to join this great club. I want to help the team and lift the trophy. I came here with the ambition to win in every competition." He has signed a long-term contract that runs until June 2031.
Lee made his unofficial debut in front of domestic fans on August 9 during a friendly match against Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium. He then traveled to Spain for his official signing event ahead of the new season.
Having developed in Valencia's youth system and played for Valencia and Mallorca, Lee returns to La Liga after three years. He expressed a strong desire to return to Spain, saying, "I thought countless times about playing in Spain again. It is where I grew up, and I was eager to return to La Liga."
His decision to join Atletico Madrid was influenced by a thirst for victory and the persuasion of captain Koke. Lee explained, "I have lived in Spain since I was young, so I know how great this club is. From the moment I received the club's contact, I wanted to join to win titles. Koke was one of the biggest reasons I decided to sign with the club. He reached out to me directly, which helped in making my decision."
Lee added, "Koke is a legend of the club who has played for Atletico Madrid for over ten years. I learn a lot from him every day. I want to help the team for the fans, just like Koke does."
He also shared positive feedback about training with head coach Diego Simeone, saying, "What I felt differently compared to my previous teams is the coach's incredible passion. The training intensity was very high, but I genuinely enjoyed it because of the team's unique atmosphere. I am happy to be with the coach."
Lee will wear the No. 7 jersey, previously held by Antoine Griezmann, the club's all-time leading scorer and an iconic forward. Griezmann made 501 appearances for Atletico Madrid, scoring 212 goals and providing 100 assists.
Regarding the significance of the number, Lee remarked, "The No. 7 is a special number worn by many legends in this team," but emphasized, "I will focus on helping the team every day rather than the jersey number. I will do my best in that role until the last day I wear this uniform."
Lee is set to make his official debut on August 20 at 4 a.m. local time against promoted Malaga in the opening match of the 2026-2027 La Liga season at the Estadio Cívitas Metropolitano.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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