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| Lee Kang-in | |
|---|---|
| Name | Lee Kang-in |
| Birth date | 19 February 2001 |
| Birth place | Incheon, South Korea |
| Height | 1.73 m |
| Position | Attacking midfielder, winger |
| Currentclub | Paris Saint-Germain |
| Youthclubs | Incheon United, Valencia |
| Seniorclubs | Valencia Mestalla, Valencia, Mallorca (loan), Paris Saint-Germain |
| Nationalteams | South Korea U17, South Korea U20, South Korea U23, South Korea |
Lee Kang-in is a South Korean professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder and winger. He emerged from the youth system of Valencia CF after early development in Incheon and progressed through Spain's La Liga before moving to Paris Saint-Germain. He has represented South Korea at multiple youth levels and at senior international tournaments, earning recognition for technical skill and creativity.
Born in Incheon, Lee began playing football in local youth setups and attracted attention from Korea Football Association scouts and regional academies. He joined the youth system of Incheon United before trials in Europe led to a move to the academy of Valencia CF, joining fellow prospects in the La Liga club's academy structure. At Valencia's Ciudad Deportiva de Paterna he trained alongside contemporaries from Spain national under-21 football team pipelines and participated in tournaments organized by UEFA and FIFA youth competitions, drawing comparisons to graduates of La Masia and other notable academies.
Lee made his senior debut with Valencia CF Mestalla and broke into the first team under the management of Marcelino García Toral and later coaches. He scored key goals in Copa del Rey fixtures and provided assists in league matches against established La Liga sides such as Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Atlético Madrid. Seeking regular minutes, he spent a season on loan at RCD Mallorca where his performances earned plaudits from sports media in Spain and interest from continental clubs. In 2023 he transferred to Paris Saint-Germain where he joined a squad featuring players from France national football team, Brazil national football team, and other international stars, competing in Ligue 1, the UEFA Champions League, and domestic cup competitions such as the Coupe de France.
Lee represented South Korea national under-17 football team at the FIFA U-17 World Cup and was influential in youth teams coached by staff from the Korea Football Association. He starred for the South Korea national under-20 football team during the FIFA U-20 World Cup campaign and won individual awards at youth tournaments overseen by FIFA and CONMEBOL-aligned scouts. Promoted to the South Korea national under-23 football team squad, he also contested regional events like the Asian Games. He made his senior debut for the South Korea national football team in friendly matches and went on to represent his country at major competitions including AFC Asian Cup qualification, FIFA World Cup cycles, and continental qualifiers against teams from Japan national football team, Australia national soccer team, and Iran national football team.
Lee is noted for close control, short passing, and vision likened to playmakers developed in European academies. Analysts compare aspects of his technique to creative midfielders from Argentina national football team, Portugal national football team, and Spain national football team pedigrees. Operating between the lines, he links midfield to attack, creates chances for strikers like those from South Korea national football team history, and takes set-pieces in club and international fixtures. Coaches from Valencia CF, RCD Mallorca, and Paris Saint-Germain have emphasized his tactical adaptability in formations featuring variants of 4–3–3 and 4–2–3–1 used across UEFA competitions.
Lee's family background in Incheon supported his early moves to Europe and he has engaged with charitable initiatives connected to youth development overseen by organizations tied to the Korea Football Association and local foundations. Off the pitch he has appeared in media programs produced by broadcasters such as SBS (South Korean broadcaster), KBS and has been featured in interviews with sports outlets covering La Liga and Ligue 1.
Club - Appearances and goals recorded across La Liga, Segunda División B, Ligue 1, Copa del Rey, Coupe de France, and UEFA Champions League competitions for Valencia, Mallorca, and Paris Saint-Germain.
International - Caps and goals for South Korea national under-17 football team, South Korea national under-20 football team, South Korea national under-23 football team, and South Korea national football team including tournaments such as the FIFA U-20 World Cup, Asian Games, and FIFA World Cup qualifiers.
Lee's honours include youth tournament accolades at FIFA U-20 World Cup level, domestic cup achievements in Copa del Rey fixtures, league contributions in La Liga and Ligue 1, and individual awards recognizing young talent presented by organizations including FIFA, UEFA, and national football bodies. He has been shortlisted for domestic young player awards in Spain and France and cited in continental talent lists published by international sports media.
Category:South Korean footballers Category:1998 births