Son Heung-min shared an emotional goodbye as he played his last match for Tottenham in front of his devoted fans in Seoul.
He is currently in advanced talks with Major League Soccer (MLS) team Los Angeles FC and is expected to transfer for a fee around £20 million.
The South Korean forward was embraced by both his Spurs teammates and the Newcastle players, who formed a guard of honour when he was substituted in the 65th minute.
After handing the captain’s armband to Ben Davies, Son, 33, was escorted off the pitch by the coaching staff and substitutes.
He took a seat on the bench, resting his head in his hands as he struggled to hold back tears.
Newcastle manager Eddie Howe commented: “The reaction from my players was instinctive. It speaks volumes about him. It’s not just his talent but also how he has conducted himself over the years. He is regarded as one of the great Premier League players.”
On Saturday, Son revealed that he had made “the most difficult” decision of his career in choosing to leave Spurs after a decade.
The pre-season friendly ended in a 1-1 draw at the Seoul World Cup Stadium.
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“I didn’t expect to cry at first,” Son admitted. “But after hearing a few words from my teammates, it felt really tough to leave the club I’ve been with for so long. I felt incredibly happy playing this match.
“Thanks to my fans, my teammates, and even my opponents, it was an unforgettable day.
My career isn’t over yet, and I want to continue bringing joy to the fans. I know I have more to achieve as a football player.”
There was a concern for new Tottenham manager Thomas Frank when midfielder James Maddison was taken off on a stretcher just 10 minutes after coming on.
Frank remarked that “sometimes in life and football, things can be both beautiful and brutal. That was the case today.
“It seems like a serious injury for Maddison, but on the other hand, we witnessed incredible scenes for Son from his teammates and the respect shown by the Newcastle players.
“Initially, there was the walk-around, and then his teammates gathered around him, and he was emotional. In the locker room, it was similar. I said a few words, but it was mainly about Sonny.
“Then he shared a few thoughts. It was beautiful.”
Son became the most expensive Asian signing in Premier League history when he joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen for approximately £22 million in 2015.
A club legend, he played a key role in helping Spurs end their 17-year trophy drought in May, captaining the team to victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final.
Frank, who mentioned in a press conference on Saturday that saying goodbye in South Korea would provide “a beautiful ending,” was moved by the day’s events.
