Atletico Madrid's new midfielder Lee Kang-in said Saturday he is determined to give everything for his new club, pledging to deliver his "120 percent" to help the Spanish side achieve success.

The South Korean international is scheduled to make his first appearance for Atleti in a preseason friendly against Manchester City, kicking off at 8 p.m. Sunday at Seoul World Cup Stadium. The match comes as Atletico continue their preseason build-up after a summer transfer window that has already brought Lee into a squad aiming to stay competitive across La Liga, the Copa del Rey and the Champions League.

Lee completed his transfer to Atletico Madrid in late July following a three-season stint with French powerhouse Paris Saint-Germain (PSG). Administrative delays, however, prevented him from linking up with the squad right away, causing him to miss their preseason fixture in Sweden the previous Saturday.

Over the past several days, Lee has been training at the facilities of K League 1 club FC Seoul. Speaking at a prematch press conference at Mokdong Stadium in western Seoul, he expressed eagerness to finally step onto the pitch for his new club.

"I have always been a player who wants to win and I joined this team to win," Lee said. "Players exist to help their team win. I will give my 120 percent to help us win."

Lee's connection to Spanish football runs deep. He spent his teenage years in the country, rising through the youth ranks at Valencia and making his senior La Liga debut at 17 years old in early 2019. He remained with Valencia until August 2021 before moving to fellow La Liga side RCD Mallorca, where he played from 2021 to 2023 ahead of his switch to PSG.

When asked about his motivation for changing clubs this summer, Lee's answer was straightforward.

"Simply put, it is Atletico Madrid," he said.

"I have been watching this team for a long time and I have known all along how big of a club they are," Lee continued. "And I am really happy to have a chance to play for this team. The head coach (Diego Simeone) and the management made me feel they really wanted me. They compete for trophies every year and I feel like I can continue to grow as a player and lift more trophies with this club."

Atletico Madrid finished fourth in La Liga last season and fell to Real Sociedad on penalties in the Copa del Rey final. The club also reached the semifinals of the UEFA Champions League.

Lee has taken over the club's iconic No. 7 shirt, previously worn by Atleti legend Antoine Griezmann, who now plays in Major League Soccer. The jersey number is traditionally assigned to the team's premier attacking midfielder or right winger and has become synonymous with flair and creativity.

The 24-year-old, however, downplayed the significance of the number.

"I know the number means so much because so many legends of the club have worn it before me," Lee said. "But I am only thinking about how I can best help the team and how I can keep improving as a player. Doing my best each and every day to help the club is the most important thing for me. I am not thinking about anything else."

Lee also voiced enthusiasm about meeting Atletico Madrid's supporters in Spain, calling them "the best fans in the world."

"I will try to show them I am the kind of player that helps the team and brings joy to fans," he said.

At the same press conference, head coach Diego Simeone revealed he has already been struck by Lee's work ethic in training and stressed that his role is to facilitate the player's ongoing development.

The Argentine manager also noted Lee's generosity, as the Korean star had treated the entire squad to dinner on Friday night.

"The first impression is really important when we start a relationship, and I think Lee Kang-in really showed the type of person that he is from the get-go," Simeone said. "He has already shown us how humble he is and how ready he is to play for us. He is an extremely hard-working player and I can tell you he is just the type of player we need at Atletico Madrid."

Simeone refrained from detailing exactly how he plans to deploy Lee positionally in the upcoming campaign.

"When a new player joins a team, we have to figure out ways to bring out the best in him," Simeone said. "Our focus will be on maximizing his individual skills."

Sunday's Atleti-Man City clash will serve as the finale of this year's Coupang Play Series, an annual event organized by the eponymous streaming service that brings popular European clubs to Korea for preseason fixtures. The two sides previously met during the 2023 Coupang Play Series, with Atletico Madrid securing a 2-1 victory.

Simeone recalled noticing a greater number of Manchester City jerseys among the crowd when the teams met three years ago, but said he anticipates stronger support for his side this time around — bolstered by Lee's presence.

"I expect to see more Atletico Madrid shirts tomorrow. And those will be our true fans," Simeone said with a smile.