Tottenham Hotspur captain Heung-min Son has confirmed his decision to leave the club this summer after a decade in North London, informing new manager Thomas Frank and club management of his desire for a new challenge. The 33-year-old South Korean star, who led Spurs to the 2024-25 Europa League title, announced his exit at a press conference in Seoul on August 1, 2025, ahead of a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United, which could be his final game for the club. “I’ve achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment to push myself,” Son said, visibly emotional.
Negotiations are advancing with Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC (LAFC), which has prioritized Son for one of its two open designated player spots. Despite interest from Saudi Pro League clubs in May offering higher wages, Son prefers LAFC, drawn by Los Angeles’ large Korean population of 320,000 and a lifestyle aligning with his personal goals. The MLS secondary transfer window, open until August 21, 2025, provides a tight timeline for talks, with LAFC aiming to integrate Son for the remainder of the 2025 season and beyond.
Son’s departure, after 173 goals in 454 appearances since joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, marks the end of an era for Spurs, where he formed a historic partnership with Harry Kane, setting up 47 goals together. His exit follows a challenging 2024-25 season, with Tottenham finishing 17th in the Premier League and Son missing eight games due to injuries. LAFC, fifth in the MLS Western Conference, sees Son as a commercial and on-field boost, with Tottenham reportedly allowing a smooth exit given his contract’s final year and negligible transfer fee.
