After a decade of brilliance in North London, Son Heung-min has officially departed Tottenham Hotspur, completing a landmark move to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. The transfer, confirmed this week, sees the South Korean forward join LAFC for a record MLS fee of $26 million (£19.5 million), surpassing the previous high set by Atlanta United’s signing of Emmanuel Latte Lath.
A Farewell Marked by Emotion and Legacy
Son announced his decision to leave Spurs during a heartfelt press conference in Seoul, ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle United—his final appearance for the club. Holding back tears, the 33-year-old described the move as “the most difficult” of his career.
“I came to North London as a kid, 23 years old, a young boy who didn’t even speak English,” Son said. “Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment.”
He thanked Tottenham fans for their unwavering support, saying, “It felt like home. I hope goodbye is a good time. I think it’s the right time to make this decision.”
A Decade of Impact at Spurs
Since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, Son has become one of Tottenham’s most iconic players. He scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists in 454 appearances, placing him fourth on the club’s all-time top scorers list—behind only Harry Kane, Jimmy Greaves, and Bobby Smith.
His partnership with Kane was historic, combining for 47 goals across 229 matches, including a record-setting 14 assists between them in the 2020/21 season. Son’s final competitive match for Spurs was the Europa League final win over Manchester United in Bilbao, where he lifted the club’s first major trophy since 2008.
Choosing MLS Over Other Offers
Despite interest from Saudi Arabian clubs, Son opted for a move to the United States, citing a desire for a fresh challenge and happiness in his playing environment. He was present at LAFC’s 2-1 Leagues Cup victory over Tigres UANL and completed his medical and paperwork earlier this week.
Son joins an LAFC squad currently sixth in the Western Conference and will reunite with former Spurs’ teammate Hugo Lloris.
