Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has confirmed he will leave the club this summer, bringing an end to a decade-long spell in north London.
The 33-year-old South Korea international joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has since become one of the club’s most iconic players, scoring 173 goals in 454 appearances.
Son captained Tottenham to their long-awaited Europa League triumph over Manchester United in May, securing the club’s first major trophy in 17 years. Although his contract runs until 2026, he is currently in advanced negotiations with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC.
Speaking at a press conference alongside new Spurs manager Thomas Frank, Son said the decision was “the most difficult one I have made in my career.”
“I came to north London as a kid – a very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn’t speak English,” he said. “Leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment.”
Tottenham are in Seoul as part of their pre-season tour, with Son expected to start and captain the side in Sunday’s friendly against Newcastle United, a fixture that could mark his final appearance for the club, in front of his home fans.
Frank, who replaced Ange Postecoglou in June, praised the departing skipper as “a true Spurs legend” and “one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League.”
“If that is the last game for Sonny, what a place to do it – here in front of his home fans,” said Frank. “It could be a beautiful ending.”
Spurs are also set to face Paris Saint-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on 13 August, though Son is expected to complete his move before then.
Reflecting on his time at the club, Son said: “Winning a title in Europe with Spurs felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could.”
Since making his debut in September 2015, Son has made 333 Premier League appearances, scoring 127 goals, placing him joint 16th in the all-time Premier League scorers list alongside Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink and ahead of Steven Gerrard, Dwight Yorke, and Ian Wright.
His attacking partnership with Harry Kane, now at Bayern Munich, was one of the most prolific in Premier League history.
The duo combined for 47 goals, with Son scoring 24 and assisting 23 for Kane. During the 2020–21 and 2021–22 seasons alone, they linked up 21 times for goals.
In 2021–22, Son became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot, sharing the award with Mohamed Salah after netting 23 goals. A year later, he became the first Asian to reach 100 Premier League goals.
He also featured in Tottenham’s 2019 Champions League final against Liverpool and was named club captain in August 2023, following Hugo Lloris’ departure.
“I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change – 10 years is a long time,” Son said.
“I spent a lot of time reflecting on whether I wanted to experience football in a different environment, and I had those conversations with myself over and over again.”
Son also provided 101 assists in all competitions, including a club-record 71 in the Premier League.
He leaves the club with the sixth-most appearances in Tottenham history, behind only Cyril Knowles, Pat Jennings, Gary Mabbutt, Steve Perryman, and Glenn Hoddle.
