Son Heung-min To Depart Tottenham After A Decade Of Brilliance.
Tottenham Hotspur’s captain, Son Heung-min, has announced his decision to leave the club this summer, marking the end of a remarkable ten-year tenure in North London. The 33-year-old South Korean star made the emotional revelation during a press conference in Seoul ahead of Spurs’ pre-season friendly against Newcastle United, describing the choice as “the most difficult decision” of his career.
Son, who joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 for £22 million, has become one of the club’s modern icons, scoring 173 goals in 454 appearances and cementing his status as the Premier League’s top Asian goalscorer. His departure follows a triumphant final chapter, having led Spurs to Europa League glory in May 2025 with a 1-0 victory over Manchester United, ending the club’s 17-year trophy drought. “Winning the Europa League made me feel I had achieved everything I could here,” Son said, reflecting on his pride in lifting silverware as captain.
Speaking alongside new head coach Thomas Frank, Son expressed gratitude to Tottenham and its fans, noting the club’s support in his decision to seek a “fresh challenge.” “I came to North London as a kid, 23 years old, a young boy who didn’t even speak English,” he said. “I leave as a grown man, a very proud man. I want to thank all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love.” The forward, visibly emotional, highlighted the need for a new environment to push himself further, adding, “Ten years is a long time.”
Speculation about Son’s future has swirled in recent weeks, with sources indicating interest from Major League Soccer’s Los Angeles FC, who are reportedly leading the race to sign him, though Saudi Arabian clubs have also shown interest. His contract, extended until 2026 in January, allows Tottenham to negotiate a transfer fee for their talismanic captain.[](https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11675/13405450/heung-min-son-tottenham-hotspur-captain-to-leave-spurs-this-summer-after-ten-years-and-wants-to-join-mls)[](https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-14962429/Son-Heung-min-Tottenham-LEAVE-final-match.html)
Son’s tenure at Spurs is defined by standout moments, including sharing the Premier League Golden Boot with Mohamed Salah in the 2021-22 season and forming a lethal partnership with Harry Kane, with the duo setting up 47 goals for each other, a record in the competition’s history. Despite a modest seven Premier League goals last season, his leadership and consistency have earned him widespread admiration, with Frank calling him “a true Spurs legend in every aspect.”
The Seoul friendly against Newcastle on Sunday is expected to be Son’s final appearance for Tottenham, where he will captain the side in front of a sell-out crowd of 66,000 in his homeland. Frank praised the poetic timing, noting, “If this is to be Sonny’s last game, what a place to do it, in South Korea, in front of his home fans.”
As Tottenham prepare for a new era under Frank, with a return to the Champions League on the horizon, Son’s exit signals the end of an era. Fans and teammates alike will bid farewell to a player whose speed, two-footed finishing, and infectious personality have left an indelible mark on the club.
