Lee Kang-In Express!
Check out the CV of Paris Saint-Germain’s new midfielder.
YOUNG PRODIGY
Lee Kang-In was born in Incheon, South Korea, on 19 February 2001, and it wasn't long before he was the talk of the town... At just 6 years old, the prodigy became a celebrity in his country. He was crowned winner of a reality TV show in which he competed against opponents from all over the country and he won a ticket to Manchester, where he filmed an advert with United midfielder Park Ji-Sung, a legend of South Korean football.
A star in South Korea, Lee Kang-In soon made a name for himself in Europe. As a result, he joined Valencia's academy in Spain in the summer of 2011. He was only 10 years old, but wasn't overwhelmed. The proof: 7 years later, on 30 October 2018, he became the youngest South Korean ever to make a professional debut in Europe.
Unfortunately, he wasn't able to carve out a place for himself and after 65 matches and three seasons with Valencia, he joined Mallorca in 2021. It was his time to shine. Quickly establishing his spot in the starting eleven, he shone with the club from the Balearics, so much so that he was called up by Paulo Bento to take part in the World Cup 2022. Courted by several of Europe's top clubs, he opted to join Paris to continue his journey towards the top.
Skilful left-FOOT
A fast and technical midfielder by trade, Lee Kang-In uses his pace and the quality of his left foot to make the difference. At 22 years old, he can play in any forward position, through the middle or on the wing. At ease in tight spaces but also when played in deep, he is capable of alternating between long and short play. Last season, he played a key role in keeping Mallorca in La Liga (6 goals and 7 assists). All that remains now is for him to prove his worth at the highest level.
did YOU KNOW??
In the summer of 2019, Kang-In Lee was selected to take part in the U20 World Cup in Poland. And he left his mark on the tournament. At just 1.72m tall, he was the main man in his team. He scored 2 goals and picked up 4 assists, helping his side reach the final, where they lost to Ukraine. But it was the midfielder who was voted the tournament's best player, ahead of a certain Erling Haaland, despite him being the tournament's top scorer.