Lee Kang-in, 25, is on the verge of joining Spain's La Liga.
Spanish outlet Marca reported on the 23rd (Korea time) that "Lee Kang-in will sign a five-year contract with Atletico Madrid," adding that "the official announcement is expected on Thursday, the 24th."
According to Marca, his current club Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) and Atletico Madrid already reached an agreement on the transfer several weeks ago. The transfer fee is 35 million euros (about 58.7 billion won), with an additional 5 million euros (about 8.4 billion won) possible as an option. The contract is likely to run through 2031.
The delay in the transfer announcement was reportedly due to the contract termination process.
Marca projected that "Lee Kang-in could join team training under manager Diego Simeone within this week," adding that "he will make his debut in a closed-door friendly against Getafe on the 29th or in a friendly against Manchester United held in Stockholm, Sweden, on the 1st of next month."
Lee Kang-in is expected to show his first appearance to domestic fans after the transfer through a "Coupang Play Series" friendly between Atletico Madrid and Manchester City at Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 9.
Having spent most of his youth career in Spain, Lee Kang-in played for Valencia and Mallorca (both in Spain) before joining PSG in 2022, competing in France's Ligue 1 for three years.
Atletico Madrid hopes Lee Kang-in will fill the void left by club "legend" Antoine Griezmann, who departed for Orlando City of the U.S. Major League Soccer (MLS).
