Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has confirmed he will leave the club this summer, bringing an end to a remarkable 10-year spell in north London.
The 33-year-old forward, who joined from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, departs having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances and finally lifted silverware as Spurs beat Manchester United in the Europa League final in May.
Son, who is in advanced talks to join MLS side Los Angeles FC, described the decision as “the most difficult of my career” during a media session alongside new manager Thomas Frank in Seoul, where Spurs are on pre-season duty.
He is expected to captain the team against Newcastle in a friendly on Sunday, likely his farewell appearance in front of home fans.
The South Korea international leaves as one of Tottenham’s greatest ever players, with a legacy that includes a Champions League final appearance, a shared Premier League Golden Boot in 2021-22, and a record 47 goal combinations with former strike partner Harry Kane.
He has also provided 101 assists and made the sixth-most appearances in club history.
“I came as a young boy who couldn’t speak English, and I leave as a grown man proud of everything I achieved,” Son said. “Winning a title in Europe felt like the final piece of my Spurs journey.”
Frank called him “a true Spurs legend” and said it would be “a beautiful ending” if Son’s final match comes in front of his home supporters.
While Tottenham face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup later this month, the forward is expected to seal his move to Los Angeles before then, closing a chapter that transformed both his career and the club’s modern history.
