Lee Kang-in’s Atletico Madrid transfer looks close after medical officer's Korea visit fuels speculation
A youth center’s disclosure about Atletico Madrid’s chief medical officer visiting Korea has intensified reports that Lee Kang-in is nearing a move from Paris Saint-Germain, while Hwang In-beom is also linked with a summer transfer.
Korea's attacking midfielder and winger Lee Kang-in dribbles at Akron Stadium during a 2026 World Cup match on June 11.NEWS1
Fresh transfer speculation surrounding Lee Kang-in gathered pace after a youth education center in Seoul revealed that Atletico Madrid's (ATM) chief medical officer recently visited Korea, reinforcing reports that the midfielder is close to joining the Spanish club.
Lee, who currently plays for Paris Saint-Germain, and national teammate Hwang In-beom of Feyenoord are both expected to change clubs this summer.
Interest in Lee's reported move to ATMhas intensified after the Dorim-dong Education Center in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, announced on Monday that Dr. Jose Maria Villalon, Atletico's chief medical officer, visited the center to deliver a special lecture for students.
The center said Villalon was in Korea to conduct Lee's medical examination.
A medical examination is typically the final step before a player signs a contract after clubs have agreed on transfer terms, leading many fans to treat the move as a done deal.
The announcement also appeared to support an earlier report by French outlet RMC Sport, which said “Paris Saint-Germain and Atletico Madrid had agreed to Lee's transfer for a reported fee of 40 million euros [$45.6 million].”
ATM is alsoscheduled to visit Korea this summer for a series that will play on local streaming platform Coupang Play, and speculation had already been circulatingwithin football circles that the club's participation was linked to Lee's anticipated arrival.
Hwang In-beom, Korea's central midfielder, follows the ball at Monterrey Stadium in Mexico during a 2026 World Cup match on June 24.YONHAP
Managed by Diego Simeone, Atletico is known for its disciplined, hard-working style of play. Lee's ability to unlock defenses with precise left-footed passes, close control and set-piece delivery could give Atletico another attacking option in La Liga and European competitions.
Hwangis also reportedly close to a move.
Portuguese sports daily A Bola reported Tuesday that “The Feyenoord midfielder is on the verge of joining FC Porto after reaching personal terms with the Portuguese club.”
“The transfer is highly likely to go through, as Porto head coach Francesco Farioli rates Hwang In-beom highly,” it added.
According to the report, Hwang has agreed to an annual salary of 3 million euros before tax, equivalent to about 1.5 million euros after tax.
FC Porto is one of Portugal's most successful clubs and a regular participant in the UEFA Champions League, often serving as a stepping stone to Europe's biggest leagues.
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
