Lee Kang-in (25), who has joined the prestigious Spanish professional football club Atletico Madrid (Atletico), has expressed his excitement about joining his new team, saying he wants to begin his new chapter as soon as possible.

Lee shared his expectations and determination regarding his time with Atletico through a video released on the club's official website today (August 5).

Atletico announced on July 25 that they had signed Lee, who previously played for Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in France.

His contract runs until June 30, 2031.

According to local media, the transfer fee is 35 million euros, with an additional 5 million euros in potential add-ons.

In the 2-minute and 33-second video, Lee began by saying in fluent Spanish, "I am truly pleased and happy to join such a great club."

"I want to meet my new teammates, the manager, and the coaching staff," he continued. "I also want to quickly meet Atletico's fans, who are known to be the best in the world."

Having rested in Korea after the 2026 North and Central America World Cup and prepared for the new season, Lee has dedicated himself to staying in shape domestically even after the announcement of his contract with Atletico.

He originally planned to travel to Spain to join the team, but his departure was delayed due to administrative procedures related to his military service exemption following his gold medal win at the 2022 Hangzhou Asian Games, leading to his first meeting with the team domestically when Atletico visits Korea.

Atletico is scheduled to play a pre-season friendly against Manchester City (England) at the Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 9.

"I really want to get started as soon as possible," Lee said. "Fortunately, there are only a few days left, so I am looking forward to it even more."

He also explained the circumstances, saying, "Both the club and I wanted me to join as early as possible, but there were some minor difficulties in processing the paperwork. It was a pity that I couldn't join earlier."

He added, "Still, I have consistently undergone high-intensity training over the past few weeks. I wanted to join the team in top physical condition."

Introducing himself, Lee said, "As both a player and a person, I have a strong competitive spirit. I always look toward bigger goals and strive to continue improving," expressing his determination by adding, "The most important thing for me is to help the team anywhere and anytime. I certainly want to achieve the goals that the team and I have set together."

Atletico is visiting Korea once again, three years after their visit in 2023.

"Korean fans really loved Atletico back then," Lee emphasized. "I think there were already many fans supporting this team in Korea at that time, and I believe there will be even more fans in the future."

Lee faced Atletico in the past while playing for Spanish clubs Valencia and Mallorca.

Reflecting on those times, he said, "Every match was difficult. The pressure at the Metropolitano (Atletico's home stadium) was also immense," adding, "It feels truly special and I am very excited to now be a player for this team."

Reiterating, "I want to start as soon as possible," Lee concluded the interview with the Spanish phrase, "Aupa Atleti!" (Let's go Atleti!)

(Photo: Capture from Atletico Madrid official YouTube channel, Yonhap News)