Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has announced that he will depart the club this summer after 10 years.
The South Korean forward joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has netted 173 goals in 454 matches.
He captained the team to victory over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May, securing their first trophy in 17 years.
At 33 years old, Son is under contract with Spurs until 2026 and is currently in advanced talks with Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.
Describing his decision as “the most difficult one I have made in my career,” Son spoke to the media alongside new manager Thomas Frank.
“I arrived in north London as a kid, very young and not even speaking English,” Son reflected. “Leaving this club as an adult is a very proud moment for me.”
Tottenham is in Seoul for their pre-season training, and Son is expected to start and captain the team against Newcastle in a friendly on Sunday, potentially marking his final appearance for the club in his home country.
Frank, who took over as head coach in June, praised Son as “a true Spurs legend” and “one of the greatest players in Premier League history.”
“If this is Sonny’s last game, what a place to do it in front of his home fans, iit could be a beautiful conclusion,” Frank remarked.
Tottenham is also set to face Paris St-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13, although Son may leave before then.
Son expressed that winning a title in Europe with Spurs “felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could.”
He made his debut for Tottenham in September 2015 and has since played 333 matches in the Premier League.
He scored 127 goals in the league, tying with former Chelsea striker Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink for 16th on the all-time scorers list, ahead of notable players like Dwight Yorke, Steven Gerrard, and Ian Wright.
Son formed a remarkable attacking duo with Harry Kane, who is now at Bayern Munich, and they hold the record for the most goal combinations in Premier League history.
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Together, they achieved a record 47 combinations, with Son scoring 24 goals and Kane 23. During a prolific two-season stretch in 2020-21 and 2021-22, they connected for goals 21 times.
Son became the first Asian player to win the Premier League golden boot, sharing the honor with Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah after scoring 23 goals in the 2021-22 season. A year later, he became the first Asian player to reach 100 Premier League goals.
He played in the Champions League final against Liverpool in 2019, which ended in a 2-0 defeat, and took over as club captain from Hugo Lloris in August 2023.
“I need a new environment to challenge myself. A little change is necessary—ten years is a long time,” Son added.
He also recorded 101 assists throughout his time at the club.
