LAFC, the MLS circle, is where Son Heung-min is departing Spurs. How the things have come to this stage?
The announcement that Tottenham Hotspur’s captain, Son Heung-min, wants to leave this summer and is interested in joining the MLS team Los Angeles FC has stunned supporters of the club.
Newcastle United will play Spurs in a friendly game in Son’s native South Korea on Sunday as part of their current preseason trip to East Asia. In what may now be the South Korean captain’s last game for Tottenham, the Seoul World Cup Stadium will undoubtedly witness some highly moving moments. The forward will start and captain the side, according to new manager Thomas Frank, who made the announcement at conference on Saturday morning.
In August 2015, Son transferred to Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen for £22 million (currently $29 million), and during his 10-year stay, he has scored 173 goals in 454 games across all competitions. The 33-year-old is about to leave, signaling the conclusion of an era. Since Harry Kane’s departure in 2023, he has been the face of the London club and one of the most dependable players for both Tottenham and the Premier League over the past ten years.
Although Son will still feel bittersweet when he bids farewell, his position as a club hero was cemented in May when he helped them win the Europa League and end their 17-year trophy drought.
What is Son’s motive for leaving at this moment?
Frank addressed several senior players in Tottenham’s roster, including Son, after he was named Ange Postecoglou’s replacement as Spurs manager in June. Son told Frank at that time that he wanted to leave. Not one of the other athletes showed any sign of wanting to leave.
In the last year, there have been indicators that Son’s stay in north London may be coming to an end. Prior to Spurs exercising their option to extend by twelve months, he started his last six months of his contract beginning of the year. The doubts concerning his future were only momentarily put to rest. The possibility of a departure was left open by not signing a long-term contract, especially since Son was no longer the team’s talisman like he was the year before.
Son is no longer assured a starting position due to his performances over the previous year, and Tottenham has a wealth of left-wing possibilities. Last season, he only managed to score seven league goals, which marked the first time he fell short of double digits since the 2015–16 season.
Towards the conclusion of the winter transfer window, Spurs acquired Mathys Tel on loan from Bayern Munich with a €55 million (£48 million; $63.5 million) purchase option. Despite Tel’s sporadic performances, Spurs renegotiated with Bayern and acquired the France Under-21 international permanently for €35 million this summer.
Under Postecoglou, Tel played mostly on the left wing for Spurs, but for Bayern, he played center forward. Wilson Odobert, who is capable of playing on both flanks, was acquired from Burnley last year. Mikey Moore, a former academy product who is now 17, has joined Rangers on a season-long loan, and Spurs are very optimistic that he will have a bright future with the team in the long run.
Son missed eight league games in 2024–25 due to a combination of hamstring and foot injuries, and Tottenham as a whole performed poorly, which may be used in his defense. They came in 17th in the league after suffering 22 defeats. Despite that European success, neither Spurs nor Son ever truly got rolling in the Premier League.
Son wants to depart on a high after winning the Europa League, regardless of the circumstances, as he believes the timing is perfect for a new challenge.
What did Son say during his news conference?
By making an announcement, Son opened the press conference. While speaking in Korean, he paused several times and seemed visibly moved. He said that he had only discussed his future course of action with a few close teammates, like Ben Davies. He didn’t want to speak explicitly about which team he may be joining, but he stated that he wanted to play frequently in preparation for the World Cup, which will take place in the US Canada and Mexico next year.
“I just want to share the information that I have chosen to quit this club this summer before we begin,” he stated. “This club is helping me make my decision, respectfully. The hardest choice I’ve ever had to make in my career. The primary cause is that I have accomplished all I could at Tottenham. I need a new setting to find a fresh challenge.
“I’ve lived here for ten years. The club is stunning, and the supporters are too. I have such wonderful recollections. I simply felt the necessity to challenge myself in a different setting in order to maximize my potential. In my opinion, I could use a bit of change. Ten years period is a long time.
When I was 23, I moved to north London at a very young age. A lad who couldn’t communicate in English. I exit this club as a man. To all the Spurs supporters who have shown me so much love, thank you. It felt like home. One of the hardest choices I have ever made was this one. I believe it is the appropriate moment to leave. Everyone should understand and respect that, I think.
What accounts for LAFC’s status as the front-runners to recruit him?
Son is eager to play for LAFC, where former Tottenham goalkeeper Hugo Lloris is now a star and where ex-Spurs legend Gareth Bale won an MLS Cup, even though Saudi Pro League clubs have shown interest in signing him. The largest Korean community outside of Asia is found in the United States, with the majority of them residing in Los Angeles. Commercial prospects in the United States would likely be advantageous.
In light of what the forward has accomplished during his ten years of service, Spurs want to handle his departure as gracefully as they can. Rather than insisting on the highest price, they are open to compromise on the club he joins.
Frank and many of his teammates, including Davies, have lauded the son for his demeanor and unwavering commitment to training sessions.
Prior to Son’s statement, Davies informed The Athletic that “there’s some uncertainty about what’s going to happen with him, but he has been nothing but professional in the last few weeks.” “I don’t think you would know if there was none of the talk in public about what was happening.” He has maintained a low profile, put in a lot of effort, and accepted what will happen.
One of Tottenham’s preseason friendlies was a behind-closed-doors match against League One team Wycombe Wanderers at Tottenham’s training facility, and Son has only played in that one. In a 2-0 win over Reading on July 19, he was especially slow and repeatedly lost the ball, as if he were getting more and more annoyed.
He was also left on the bench for the 1-0 win against Arsenal in Hong Kong on Thursday. Cristian Romero served as captain of the squad before giving Son, a second-half replacement, the armband so he could raise the trophy that Spurs were given for their hard work.
When Spurs arrived at Incheon airport on Friday afternoon, hundreds of supporters welcomed him and his foreign teammate Yang Min-hyeok. The game against Newcastle on Sunday will be a chance for him to commemorate his career with Spurs by facing his future head-on, allowing supporters to enjoy the occasion rather than being unsure about what will happen next.
Will a replacement be signed by Spurs?
The demands of the Europa League and the Premier League were too much for Tottenham’s team to handle last season. In Frank’s first year in charge, they face a much greater challenge since they will be competing in the Champions League, which limits their ability to rotate out their best players.
Frank’s outstanding track record of nurturing young talent was one of the reasons they hired him to succeed Postecoglou. However, it is also essential that the team has a wealth of experience. In addition to signing Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United, they are also in discussions with Bayern Munich midfielder João Palhinha about a loan agreement.
Frank is a big supporter of Tel and Odobert, even if their work is unpolished and uneven. The issue is that bringing in a more seasoned player may have an effect on their growth. Before the window shuts, Frank and Johan Lange, the athletic director, must address this problem.
