Lee Kang-in's Atletico Madrid debut ceremony set for Seoul with unprecedented fanfare

Football star Lee Kang-in is set to receive an extraordinary welcome as he joins Atletico Madrid. Instead of a ceremony at the club's home stadium, Lee will have his official signing ceremony in his native South Korea on August 9th. This unprecedented event underscores the club's and sponsor Coupang Play's desire to celebrate the new signing with his home fans.

The ceremony will precede Atletico Madrid's friendly match against Manchester City at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, where Lee will also make his debut for the Spanish club, wearing the number 7 jersey. This match is part of the 2026 Coupang Play Series.

Coupang Play described the event as a "precedent-setting special treatment," emphasizing that it stems from their genuine wish to mark Lee's new beginning with his fans. The club's intention to welcome their new ace in his hometown first also contributed to this decision. The event will feature former Atletico Madrid player David Villa, who will present Lee with a "special uniform" to commemorate his arrival.

During a press conference on August 8th, Lee expressed his ambition, stating, "I came to Atletico Madrid for more wins and championships." He pledged to give his "120% best" to help the team succeed.