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Tottenham Hotspur, the reigning champions of the UEFA Europa League, will be missing their South Korean captain, Son Heung-min, as they aim to build upon their achievements from last season, which marked the end of a 17-year trophy drought.
Efforts by Tottenham to extend Heung-min's contract, which has one season remaining, were unsuccessful after the forward expressed a desire to seek new opportunities before retiring.
The club captain revealed his decision during a press conference in his home country on Saturday, announcing he would leave the club this summer after a decade of service.
The South Korea international joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has netted 173 goals in 454 matches.
He led Tottenham to victory against Manchester United in the Europa League final in May, securing their first trophy in 17 years. At 33, and with his contract running until 2026, he is in advanced talks with Major League Soccer team Los Angeles FC.
He reflected on the decision as “the most difficult one I have made in my career” while addressing the media alongside new manager Thomas Frank. “I came to north London as a child, a young boy who didn’t even speak English. Leaving this club as an adult is a very, very proud moment,” he shared.
Currently in Seoul for pre-season training, Son is expected to start and lead the team against Newcastle in a friendly on Sunday, potentially making it his final game for Tottenham in his home country.
Frank, who took over from Ange Postecoglou as head coach in June, hailed Son as “a true Spurs legend” and “one of the greatest players in Premier League history.”
“If that turns out to be Sonny’s last game, what a fitting location to do it in front of his home fans. It could be a beautiful conclusion,” Frank commented.
Tottenham is also set to play Paris St-Germain in the UEFA Super Cup on August 13, but Son might leave before then.
