Tottenham Hotspur player Son Heung-min set to depart in summer following a decade-long tenure
Son Heung-min Bids Farewell to Tottenham Hotspur, Heads to LAFC in MLS
After a decade with Tottenham Hotspur, South Korean footballer Son Heung-min has completed a transfer to Major League Soccer (MLS) side LAFC. The deal, finalized in August 2025, marks a new chapter for the 33-year-old attacker and sets a new MLS record for a transfer fee, estimated to be around £26 million.
Son, who joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen, has been a club legend and captain. Over the years, he has scored 173 goals and provided 101 assists in 454 appearances, making him one of Tottenham's all-time greats. He won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season and captained the team from 2023.
The attacker's final competitive match for Tottenham was the 2025 Europa League final victory, a moment that Son described as achieving everything he could in his career. However, his tenure at Tottenham ended on a subpar note, with multiple leg injuries affecting his performance in the 2024-25 season.
Son announced his intention to leave Tottenham this summer, and his departure was met with a mix of emotions. During a press conference in Seoul, where Tottenham is currently on a pre-season tour, Son cut an emotional figure as he reflected on his time at the club. The decision to leave was the most difficult of his career, he said.
The new Spurs manager, Dane Antony Jensen (Frank), expressed admiration for Son, calling him a true Spurs legend and one of the greatest players in the Premier League. Despite Son's departure, the club has had a relatively quiet summer in the transfer market so far. Their major acquisition this summer is attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus from West Ham.
In LAFC, Son is expected to join a roster featuring other international stars and contribute significantly as a global football icon. He is guaranteed a rapturous reception in front of his home fans during the match against Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul. Son's move to LAFC is a "dream come true," he said, as he links up once again with former Spurs teammate Hugo Lloris at the California-based club (sources: [1], [2], [3], [4]).
[1] BBC Sport. (2025). Son Heung-min completes move to LAFC. [online] Available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/62610638
[2] Sky Sports. (2025). Son Heung-min joins LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur. [online] Available at: https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11686/12467732/son-heung-min-joins-la-fc-from-tottenham-hotspur
[3] ESPN FC. (2025). Son Heung-min signs with LAFC. [online] Available at: https://www.espn.com/soccer/la-fc/story/4737954/son-heung-min-signs-with-la-fc
[4] The Guardian. (2025). Son Heung-min completes move to LAFC. [online] Available at: https://www.theguardian.com/football/2025/aug/01/son-heung-min-completes-move-to-la-fc-from-tottenham-hotspur
Son Heung-min's departure from Tottenham Hotspur marks the beginning of a new journey in European sports, as he joins Major League Soccer's LAFC. His move, while emotional, opens opportunities for him to influence the environment of American football and European-leagues, like the Premier League, as a global football icon.
