He went straight to Europe from K League 2. Lee Kang-hee (24) has donned the uniform of FK Austria Wien, a prestigious club in Austria.

Austria Wien announced on the 27th (Korean time) through the club's official website that "we have signed Lee Kang-hee. The 23-year-old defensive midfielder passed the medical test on Thursday and transferred from Gyeongnam FC to Austria Wien. Lee Kang-hee is expected to join the team training this Friday. He has signed a contract with the club until the summer of 2029," the official statement said.

Austria Wien introduced him by saying, "Lee Kang-hee has been playing at Gyeongnam since the summer of 2023. This season, he played in 15 out of 16 league matches, completing 90 minutes each time, and scored 2 goals. In 2024, he played 7 matches for the South Korean U-23 national team, even captaining once during the Asian Cup period."

Lee Kang-hee is a midfielder born in 2001. He joined Suwon Samsung ahead of the 2020 season but found it challenging to get playing time. Lee Kang-hee's choice was a loan. He began gaining practical experience through a loan to Busan I-Park in 2022 and secured a starting position after joining Gyeongnam on loan in 2023.

Lee Kang-hee's choice was the right one. He showed impressive performances not only as a defensive midfielder but also as a center-back, successfully completing a transfer in July 2023. Recognized for his skills at Gyeongnam, he also played a key role in the U-23 Asian Cup last year while wearing the Taeguk mark.

Austria Wien spotted the talent in Lee Kang-hee. They quickly finalized the signing by offering a buyout amount. Austria Wien is also a team with connections to Korean players; Lee Jin-hyun (Ulsan HD) made his professional debut there when he joined in 2017.

Austria Wien is one of the prestigious clubs representing Austria. It boasts 24 championships in the Austrian Bundesliga, making it the club with the second-most titles. They also hold the record for the most victories in the ÖFB Cup with 27 titles. Last season, they finished 3rd in the league and secured a ticket to the UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers.

Now, Austria Wien has high hopes for Lee Kang-hee. Manuel Ortlechner, the sports director, said, "We are very pleased to have signed Lee Kang-hee. He demonstrates qualities both on and off the pitch that fit perfectly into our team." He noted, "Lee Kang-hee has already shown his potential as a South Korean youth national team member. In particular, his solid physique has left a deep impression. We are genuinely excited to sign a true team player like Lee Kang-hee, and we hope he adapts quickly and contributes to our goals."

Meanwhile, Lee Kang-hee has become the first player in Gyeongnam's history to successfully go straight to Europe. He expressed, "I am happy to arrive in Austria and Vienna. While I am a bit nervous, the desire for the European stage I have dreamed of since my teenage years is burning even brighter. My first goal is to quickly adapt to the team and secure playing time," adding, "The next goal is to acquire skills to compete at a higher level. Outside the pitch, I want to better understand life in Europe and cultivate a professional mindset."

Additionally, Lee Kang-hee stated, "European football boasts a high level in terms of tactics, physical fitness, and speed. Training and playing in this environment will surely help me improve my skills. In particular, I think learning closely from the match understanding, movements, and skills of my teammates will be of great assistance. I also want to develop tactically by collaborating with them."

Austria Wien explained, "Lee Kang-hee joined the team, introduced by Director Ortlechner, ahead of the training starting this Friday. An interpreter will always be by his side. He will also be with the training camp located in Bad Tatzmannsdorf next week."

[Photo] Korea Professional Football League (KPFL), Austria Wien social media.

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