Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min will leave the North London club this summer, ending a legendary 10-year journey. The 33-year-old South Korean joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He is now in advanced talks with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC.
Son leaves with an incredible legacy. He scored 173 goals and made 101 assists in 454 appearances across all competitions. In May, he captained Tottenham to a 2-1 Europa League final win over Manchester United. It was Spurs’ first trophy in 17 years.
“Leaving This Club as a Grown Man Is a Very, Very Proud Moment”
In a press conference held in Seoul, Son called it the most difficult decision of his career. “I came to north London as a kid – a very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn’t speak English,” Son said. “Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment.”
Tottenham are on a pre-season tour of South Korea. Son is expected to start and captain the team against Newcastle on Sunday. That match could be his farewell, played in front of his home fans.
Thomas Frank: “A True Spurs Legend”
New manager Thomas Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in June, praised Son’s impact on the club. “If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it here in front of his home fans,” Frank said.
“It could be a beautiful ending. He is a true Spurs legend and one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League.”
Tottenham will face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on 13 August. However, Son may complete his move before that match.
Historic Career at Tottenham
Son made 333 Premier League appearances, scoring 127 goals. He is tied with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and ranks above legends like Steven Gerrard and Ian Wright.
His milestones include:
- First Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot (23 goals in 2021–22, tied with Mohamed Salah)
- First Asian to score 100 Premier League goals
- Played in the 2019 Champions League Final against Liverpool
- Tottenham’s record-holder for Premier League assists (71)
He took over as captain in August 2023, after Hugo Lloris left. Son now has the sixth-most appearances in club history.
Son Needs a New Environment to Push Himself
“I need a little bit of change – 10 years is a long time,” Son said. “I spent a lot of time reflecting on whether I wanted to experience football in a different environment, and I had those conversations with myself over and over again.”
“Winning a title in Europe with Spurs felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could.”
What’s Next for Son?
A move to Los Angeles FC in MLS may be next. It would mark a fresh challenge in a new league and culture. If completed, Son would be one of the league’s highest-profile signings.
As he prepares for what may be his last game in a Spurs shirt, fans around the world are ready to say goodbye to a Premier League icon and a true Tottenham legend.
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