By Kwame Bediako
After ten remarkable years with Tottenham Hotspur, South Korean football star Son Heung-min has announced his decision to leave the Premier League club, cementing his legacy as one of Spurs’ all-time greats.
Speaking at a press conference in Seoul on Saturday, August 2, 2025, just before Tottenham’s pre-season match against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium, Son described the decision as “one of the toughest” of his career.
Entering the final year of his contract, Son had been the subject of numerous transfer speculations but chose to move on from the club where he evolved into a prolific goal scorer and respected leader.
Son began his senior career in Germany with Hamburger SV in 2010 as a teenager and later played briefly for Bayer Leverkusen before transferring to Tottenham in 2015.
His debut season saw a modest tally of four goals in 28 league matches, but he quickly established himself as a consistent offensive force with eight consecutive seasons of double-digit goals.
Son’s crowning achievement came during the 2021–2022 campaign when he shared the Premier League Golden Boot with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah, becoming the first Asian player to lead the league in scoring with 23 goals.
Throughout his time with Spurs, Son scored some unforgettable goals, including his 2019 wonder goal against Burnley, which won both the Premier League Goal of the Season and the FIFA Puskás Award for the best goal worldwide.
He earned four Premier League Player of the Month titles and played a pivotal role in finally securing Tottenham’s first major trophy in 17 years by captaining the team to victory in the UEFA Europa League in May.
Son’s achievements place him fifth on Tottenham’s all-time scoring list with 173 goals and among an elite group of players with over 450 appearances for the club.
Reflecting on his journey, Son recalled his transition from “a kid who didn’t even speak English” to a mature leader, expressing heartfelt gratitude for the “beautiful club” and the fans that supported him.
While often modest about his status, Son embraced the “legend” label in celebration of the Europa League triumph and received praise from Tottenham’s new head coach, Thomas Frank, who called him “a true Spurs legend in every aspect” and acknowledged the significance of his departure after a decade of excellence.
Son did not disclose details about his next destination but hinted at a potential move to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC, citing the upcoming 2026 World Cup hosted by the US, Canada, and Mexico as a motivating factor.
He expressed a desire to play in an environment that would help him prepare for what could be his final World Cup while also enjoying the presence of a large Korean community in Los Angeles.
“The World Cup is going to be important. I want to end up in a place where I will feel happy playing football,” he said, signalling a new chapter in his illustrious career.
