Football star Son Heung-min switches teams, heading from Tottenham to LAFC in the Global arena
Son Heung-min, the South Korean soccer star, is set to make a splash in Major League Soccer (MLS) as he transfers to Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) for a record-breaking fee of approximately $26.5 million [1][2][3]. This move marks the end of a decade-long career at Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, where Son made 454 appearances and scored 173 goals [1][3].
The 33-year-old forward and captain of the South Korean national team has signed a contract with LAFC that runs through 2027, with options extending to 2029 [1]. This transfer fee surpasses the previous MLS record of $22 million [1][2][3].
Son's prolific goal-scoring and his partnership with Harry Kane at Tottenham made him a standout player in the Premier League. Together, they held the most goal combinations between two players in the league's history. Son capped off his Spurs career by helping the team win the 2024–25 Europa League, ending a 17-year trophy drought for the club [1][3].
As a significant international player, Son has scored over 50 goals for South Korea and represented the country in recent FIFA World Cups [4].
LAFC, currently sixth in the MLS Western Conference standings, is 10 points behind leaders San Diego but has three games in hand [5]. Son's arrival is expected to boost the team's performance and attract a larger fanbase, particularly among the city's large Korean and Korean-American community.
Son's decision to join LAFC was reportedly influenced by his conversation with co-president and general manager John Thorrington [6]. He will be replacing Olivier Giroud on LAFC and will share a dressing room with former Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris.
At his introductory press conference at BMO Stadium, Son was surrounded by US and South Korean media, fans, and luminaries, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass. Wearing a understated grey and black outfit, Son posed for pictures with his new LAFC jersey and expressed his excitement to work with his new teammates and perform for LAFC [7].
Speaking about his move, Son expressed a desire for a "new chapter... a new challenge" in his career after a decade at Tottenham [8]. Justin Huh, a Korean-American software developer, expressed excitement about Son's cultural impact in LA's Korean community, while Josh Lee, co-president of the Tigers Supporters Group based in Koreatown, praised Son's arrival as significant for all fans, not just the Korean community [9].
Son's arrival at LAFC is a significant moment not just for the soccer world, but also for the city of Los Angeles. Fans gathered at Los Angeles International Airport to welcome Son's arrival, waving South Korean flags and messages of support [10]. Even former Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris took to social media to express his excitement about their reunion, with Son calling Lloris an amazing player and an amazing human being [11].
[1] [https://www.espn.com/soccer/la-fc/story/4526639/son-heung-min-to-join-los-angeles-fc-on-record-breaking-transfer] [2] [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/61211982] [3] [https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jul/12/son-heung-min-to-join-los-angeles-fc-on-record-breaking-transfer] [4] [https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/archive/southkorea/men/2022/matches/] [5] [https://www.mlssoccer.com/standings] [6] [https://www.espn.com/soccer/la-fc/story/4526639/son-heung-min-to-join-los-angeles-fc-on-record-breaking-transfer] [7] [https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2023-07-12/son-heung-min-introduced-as-la-fc-player] [8] [https://www.espn.com/soccer/la-fc/story/4526639/son-heung-min-to-join-los-angeles-fc-on-record-breaking-transfer] [9] [https://www.latimes.com/sports/soccer/story/2023-07-12/son-heung-min-introduced-as-la-fc-player] [10] [https://www.espn.com/soccer/la-fc/story/4526639/son-heung-min-to-join-los-angeles-fc-on-record-breaking-transfer] [11] [https://twitter.com/hugolloris/status/1677187032027820032]
The United States and Canada are anticipating an influx of international sports fans, particularly those interested in football, as Son Heung-min, a South Korean soccer star, joins Major League Soccer (MLS) by transferring to Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC). This record-breaking transfer fee of approximately $26.5 million surpasses the previous MLS record, potentially sparking a revival in LAFC's performance and attracting a larger fanbase, not just from the city's Korean and Korean-American community but also from football enthusiasts around the world.
