{"id":9089,"date":"2025-08-03T08:00:52","date_gmt":"2025-08-03T04:00:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/?p=8006543211011140"},"modified":"2025-08-02T23:18:32","modified_gmt":"2025-08-02T19:18:32","slug":"son-heung-min-leaves-tottenham-joins-lafc","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/son-heung-min-leaves-tottenham-joins-lafc\/","title":{"rendered":"Son Heung-Min Announces Departure from Tottenham, Poised to Join LAFC"},"content":{"rendered":"<div style=\"background: #f7fafc; padding: 15px;\">\n<p><strong>Quick Read<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Son Heung-Min announced his decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur after a decade of service.<\/li>\n<li>The South Korean star is in advanced talks to join Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer.<\/li>\n<li>Son cited a desire for a fresh challenge and preparation for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.<\/li>\n<li>The emotional farewell marks the end of a historic era for Tottenham and its fans.<\/li>\n<li>Son&#8217;s arrival in MLS is expected to elevate the league\u2019s profile both on and off the pitch.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>Son Heung-Min, one of the most celebrated players in Tottenham Hotspur\u2019s history, has officially announced his decision to leave the club after a decade of remarkable service. The 33-year-old South Korean football star, who has been a pivotal figure for Spurs since joining in 2015, is reportedly set to join Major League Soccer (MLS) team Los Angeles FC (LAFC). This move signals a significant shift in his career and a potential new chapter for MLS as a whole.<\/p>\n<h2>The Emotional Farewell<\/h2>\n<p>In an emotional press conference held on Saturday, August 2, 2025, during Tottenham\u2019s preseason tour in Seoul, South Korea, Son confirmed his decision. Fighting back tears, he stated, \u201cBefore we start, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer. It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Son expressed immense gratitude to the club and its fans, reflecting on his journey from a 23-year-old who barely spoke English to becoming Tottenham\u2019s captain and an icon. He added, \u201cI leave this club as a grown man, very proud of what I\u2019ve achieved here. I want to say thank you to all the Spurs fans who gave me so much love and made me feel at home.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Tottenham&#8217;s newly appointed manager Thomas Frank also paid tribute to Son, calling him \u201ca Spurs legend in every aspect\u201d and emphasizing the timing of his departure as a moment for him to leave on a high note.<\/p>\n<h2>A Decade of Excellence<\/h2>\n<p>Son\u2019s tenure at Tottenham has been nothing short of extraordinary. Over ten years, he made 454 appearances, scored 173 goals, and provided 77 assists across all competitions. His dynamic partnership with Harry Kane was one of the most formidable attacking duos in Premier League history. Together, they helped Tottenham achieve numerous milestones, including reaching the Champions League final in 2019 and ending the club\u2019s 17-year trophy drought with a Europa League victory in May 2025.<\/p>\n<p>Son\u2019s achievements on the pitch were matched by his impact off it. As one of the most recognizable Asian footballers globally, he attracted a significant following from South Korea and Southeast Asia, boosting Tottenham\u2019s global brand. His influence extended beyond football, as he became a cultural ambassador for South Korea in the UK and Europe.<\/p>\n<h2>Why LAFC?<\/h2>\n<p>LAFC emerged as the frontrunner for Son\u2019s signature amid competition from other clubs, including teams in Saudi Arabia. According to reports from <em>The Athletic<\/em>, the MLS side has been in advanced talks to secure the winger, who is entering the final year of his contract with Spurs. The transfer fee is estimated to be around \u00a315 million, making it a strategic move for Tottenham to gain financial return before his contract expires in 2026.<\/p>\n<p>For Son, joining LAFC offers the promise of a starting role and the opportunity to prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, which will be held in North America. The move aligns with his priorities, as he stated, \u201cMy most important priority right now is the World Cup. It\u2019s likely to be my last World Cup, and I want to give everything I have.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>LAFC, based in Los Angeles, is also home to a significant Korean-American community, further enhancing the appeal of the transfer. As noted by <em>Transfermarkt<\/em>, Los Angeles is home to approximately 320,000 ethnic Koreans, making Son\u2019s arrival a potential cultural and commercial boon for the club.<\/p>\n<h2>A Game-Changer for MLS<\/h2>\n<p>Son\u2019s move to LAFC could mark a new era for MLS, elevating the league\u2019s profile both domestically and internationally. With a market value of \u20ac20 million, Son would become one of the most valuable players in the league, alongside stars like Riqui Puig of LA Galaxy. His signing is part of a broader trend of high-profile players joining MLS, including Inter Miami\u2019s recent acquisition of Rodrigo De Paul and Vancouver Whitecaps\u2019 pursuit of Thomas M\u00fcller.<\/p>\n<p>On the pitch, Son\u2019s addition is expected to bring significant pace and dynamism to LAFC, a priority for the team as they aim to strengthen their attacking options. Club sources told <em>Fox Sports<\/em> that Son\u2019s versatility and speed make him an ideal fit for their playing style, contrasting with other potential signings like M\u00fcller.<\/p>\n<h2>The Legacy He Leaves Behind<\/h2>\n<p>Son\u2019s departure marks the end of an era for Tottenham. As the club\u2019s fifth all-time leading scorer and second in Premier League appearances, his contributions will be remembered as some of the finest in the club\u2019s history. His leadership, professionalism, and humility have earned him the admiration of teammates, coaches, and fans alike.<\/p>\n<p>Reflecting on his decision, Son said, \u201cWinning the Europa League made me feel I had achieved everything I could here. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge.\u201d His words resonate with the sentiment of a player who has given his all and is ready to embark on a new journey.<\/p>\n<p>*As Son Heung-Min prepares to don the black and gold of LAFC, he leaves behind a legacy that will forever be etched in Tottenham\u2019s history. His journey from Seoul to North London and now to Los Angeles is a testament to his talent, determination, and the unifying power of football.*<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>After a decade of service to Tottenham, Son Heung-Min has announced his departure from the club. The South Korean football star is reportedly set to join MLS team Los Angeles FC, marking a fresh chapter in his illustrious career.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9093,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"googlesitekit_rrm_CAow5Nm1DA:productID":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[1652,312,1204],"class_list":["post-9089","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-sport","tag-lafc","tag-mls","tag-tottenham"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Son-Heung-Min.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9089","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9089"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9089\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9089"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9089"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/azat.tv\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9089"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}