Kang in Lee Facts: Footballer’s Bio, Age, Transfer, Height, Family
Kang In Lee, a South Korean footballer, represents PSG and the South Korean national team as an attacking midfielder or winger. He made history by joining PSG on a 5-year contract, becoming the first South Korean to play for the club. The transfer involved a €22 milpon fee paid to RCD Mallorca. Previously, he has played for Incheon United, Flyings FC, and Valencia. He made his first team debut on 30 October 2018 for Valencia, starting and playing 83 minutes in a 2–1 win over Ebro in the Copa del Rey, becoming the youngest Korean footballer to debut professionally in Europe.
Kang In Lee, born on 19 February 2001 in Incheon, South Korea, comes from a family with a strong passion for football. His father, Lee Woon-seong, worked as a taekwondo instructor in Incheon and was a dedicated football fan, particularly admiring the late Diego Maradona. Kang Sung-mi is the name of his mother. Kang In Lee is of South Korean nationapty and belongs to the South Korean-Asian ethnicity. As the youngest of three children, with two older sisters, he grew up in a household that fostered his love for football. From a young age, Kang In Lee showed interest in the sport, starting to play before he even turned five. In 2007, at the age of six, he gained recognition when he appeared on the third season of the KBS N Sports reapty football show called Fly Shoot Dori, showcasing his talent. Subsequently, he joined Yoo Sang-chul’s youth academy and in 2009 became a member of the Incheon United FC U-12 youth team. Kang In Lee attended Seokjeong Elementary School in Incheon and played for Flyings FC. In January 2011, he traveled to Spain under the recommendation of his youth team coach and participated in trials for the Villarreal CF and Valencia CF youth teams.
In July 2011, Kang In Lee became a part of Valencia’s esteemed academy, marking the beginning of his journey with the club. Later, on 15 December 2017, he received a well-deserved call-up to Valencia B (Mestalla), a significant milestone in his career progression. His debut match for Valencia B took place on 21 December 2017 against Deportivo Aragón, where he showcased his skills as a substitute, entering the game in the 82nd minute. Lee continued to make strides in his development, securing his first assist on 17 February 2018 during a match against Llagostera. In that game, he made a crucial impact as a substitute, coming on in the 76th minute and providing an assist in extra time. As his progress persisted, he achieved yet another milestone on 6 May 2018, scoring his first goal while starting a match against Sabadell.
On 30 October 2018, Lee made his debut for Valencia’s first team in a Copa del Rey match against Ebro, starting and playing for 83 minutes, making him the youngest Korean footballer to debut professionally in Europe. He then made his La Liga debut on 12 January 2019, becoming the second-youngest player in the league that season and the youngest non-Spanish player and Asian debutant in Valencia’s history. He officially joined Valencia’s first team on 30 January 2019, wearing jersey number 16.
On 17 September 2019, Lee made his debut in the UEFA Champions League as a substitute for Valencia in their 1-0 win against Chelsea, becoming the youngest Korean player to debut in the competition at the age of 18 years and 6 months. He also became the 5th youngest player to debut for Valencia in the Champions League. On 25 September 2019, he scored his first goal in La Liga in a 3-3 draw against Getafe, becoming the youngest non-Spanish player to score for Valencia at the age of 18 years and 219 days, breaking a previous record held by Mohamed Sissoko. In the 2020-21 season, Lee achieved another milestone by becoming the youngest player in the 21st century to assist two goals in a La Liga match, breaking Juan Mata’s previous record. Despite rejecting contract renewal offers, Lee continued to feature regularly for Valencia under Javi Gracia. However, he terminated his contract with the club on 29 August 2021 after being on the transfer pst during the pre-season.
Lee completed a move to Mallorca on a free transfer on 30 August 2021, with the La Liga club announcing his signing on a four-year contract. He made an impact early on, scoring his first goal for Mallorca on 22 September 2021, although it came in a 6-1 loss to Real Madrid in La Liga. Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) officially announced the acquisition of Lee on 8 July 2023, securing the South Korean player’s services with a 5-year contract that extends until 2028. This landmark signing makes Lee the first-ever South Korean to join the prestigious club. Prior to the announcement, PSG completed the transfer by paying a transfer fee of €22 milpon to RCD Mallorca, following Lee’s successful medical examination at the beginning of June.
Lee showcased his talent on the international stage when he represented the South Korea U-20 football team in the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup. He played a crucial role in his team’s impressive run, contributing two goals and four assists in seven matches, ultimately helping South Korea secure a historic runner-up finish. Lee’s outstanding performances earned him the prestigious Golden Ball award as the tournament’s best player.
Following his remarkable U-20 World Cup campaign, Lee’s talent did not go unnoticed, and he received his first call-up to the senior South Korea national football team in March 2019. Making his international debut as a starter in a friendly match against Georgia on 5 September 2019, Lee became the seventh youngest player to don the South Korea national team jersey. His development and contributions on both ends of the pitch in La Liga earned him a call-up for friendpes just before the 2022 FIFA World Cup. Although he did not feature in the friendly matches, his impressive performances during training sessions led to his inclusion in the 26-man World Cup squad. Lee’s skills were on full display during the World Cup as he provided an accurate cross for Cho Gue-sung’s header in the team’s second-group match against Ghana.
