An emotional press conference sees Son Heung-min confirm he’s leaving Tottenham after 10 years with the Premier League club.
The 33 year old Spurs captain announced his departure this summer to join Los Angeles FC in Major League Soccer, with his final game may be a friendly against Newcastle in Seoul, his home country.
He joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, scored 173 goals in 454 appearances and led the team to a Europa League title in May 2025.
Son, the first Asian player to win the Premier League golden boot and reach 100 Premier League goals, leaves with 71 Premier League assists, a club record, and the sixth-most appearances in Tottenham’s history.
🗣️ “I think I can share more about my future after tomorrow’s game”
Son wants to move to Major League Soccer despite renewed interest from Saudi Arabia. The MLS and LAFC, who have been strongly linked to the player, will now accelerate talks with Spurs over Son’s transfer. pic.twitter.com/1dcsGGWfYO
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) August 2, 2025
Son Heung-min described the decision as the toughest of his football career, having a desire for a new environment to further challenge himself after 10 years at Spurs.
He expressed gratitude to the fans, teammates, and club, calling Tottenham his home and reflecting on his growth from a young player to a “grown man.”
He also highlighted the difficulty of leaving teammates with whom he spent significant time, noting their mixed feelings of happiness and disappointment.
Described as a “Spurs legend” and one of the Premier League’s best wingers, Son leaves on a high note, having won a well-deserved trophy and been a key player for many seasons, making this a near-perfect ending to his tenure.
He said: “Thank you for having us again here in Korea for the second year in a row. Everybody really appreciates it. It’s just incredible. Yesterday at the airport we felt the welcome. Everybody loved this and can’t wait to play tomorrow.
“Before we start, I just want to share the information that I have decided to leave this club this summer. Respectfully, this club is helping me to make my decision. I just want to share this before we start.”
On what has led him to wanting to leave, he added: “It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. I have spent 10 years at Tottenham. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge. I’m grateful the club have respected my decision and wish Spurs well for the next season.
“I spoke with only a few guys, ones I’ve spent a long time with. Obviously they’re disappointed, as a friendship or as a team-mate you’d be very disappointed if someone decided to leave, but in a respectful way. Obviously I’m very close with Ben [Davies] so we’ve spoken about the future a lot of times.
“Obviously he fully respects my decision. So does everyone. What can I say? It’s very, very hard to tell my team-mates because I sometimes probably spend more time with them than my family because we’re travelling together, spending time together every single day at the training ground, five or six hours every day.
“I think we know each other so well. Everybody was disappointed but also in a way very happy for me. That was my feeling but I don’t what they were actually feeling! They seemed happy but disappointed when I told them my decision.
“It’s been a while since I decided to leave the club. It was not easy days or weeks for me. I always try to be happy and I’m happiest when I’m playing football, but, it’s not easy to leave the club where I spent 10 years light-hearted.
“I tried to not give any negative impact on other players, didn’t want to make any sort of noise, but it was inevitable, that people noticed my feelings. My fans even know my habits, so they could notice about it, but I’ll try to have good time for the two days while I’m in here.”
He concluded: “For now it’s to focus on tomorrow’s match. I would not give many comments on the next team. Obviously I would like to focus on tomorrow’s match and the future and the next team will be decided afterwards. In choosing the next team, the World Cup will definitely be one of the key points that I will consider. It might be my last World Cup so I need my new environment to give all that I’ve got for my football career. As well as the World Cup, I will also need to find a team that will make me happy while playing football.”
Here’s the Twitter reaction following that emotional press conference which sees Son Heung-min confirm he’s leaving Tottenham after 10 years…
@digginholez: Said from the start that he has earned the right to make this decision. He stayed when he didn’t have to because he wanted to lift a trophy with spurs. He did that and I will always consider him a spurs legend
@StefanMc19: Sonny doesn’t owe us anything, we owe him so much and to be our captain in Bilbao…… a Tottenham legend forever 🤍
@SusanneArnoldMD: We all love you Sonny! You are our legend! You have given all for Spurs and we are grateful.
@harrietbrn: It’s definitely a ‘don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened’ moment but it doesn’t make it any easier. We were so lucky to have this man playing for Spurs. On and off the pitch he gave us so much. Will always remember him so fondly 🥹🥹
@mionomedev: Could speak about his qualities as a player for hours but we couldn’t possibly have had a better representative of the club, someone who truly got what it meant to be here and stayed with us until a fairytale ending
@nickty61: Wow, expected but still hits hard. A legend right up there with Hoddle, King & Ardiles. Bilbao was so much more special because it was him. Ten great years, unbelievable memories, but most of all a brilliant role model & person. Spurs in a bottle. Thank you Sonny 🇰🇷
@KyprosEllinas: Leaving as a legend 🤍 And at the perfect time for everyone
@Lilywhite_Rose: And leaves with a bigger legacy than anyone else over the past 41 years. A modern day legend and true icon of the club. Absolute got what it meant to be a Tottenham player and delivered when it mattered most. Build the statue @SpursOfficial
@StuartRandall: We throw legend around a lot, but this guy is that and more. Will always be Tottenham. Thank you Sonny.
@mackyd78: Perfect time to bow out, stayed to win a trophy when many took arguably the easy route and left to go do it, for that alone he will go down as a club legend and icon, not for his personal records but being the captain of the club that won a major European trophy. Nice one @Sonny7
@jlewis2891: The clubs biggest legend of the PL era ❤️
@LouisePage_: Woken by a sobbing 8 yr old about this one. Nice one, son’s crying. Sonny is a legend and has been a brilliant servant to the club, possibly the right time to go however.
@zachsexton22: This could hit worse than Kane… my goodness
@Hamiltap: There are stars, and then there are legends. Sonny is a LEGEND of this club and I am so happy he leaves on his own terms. Forever my captain 🫡 #COYS
@georgehorsley: Heung-min Son … what a player, what a servant for Tottenham! Taking us to our first European trophy in 41 years as captain, he earned the right to leave whenever he wanted to! The timing feels right for all parties, wish you all the best Sonny!
@Gchrist90: One of my favorite players of all time and a true Spurs Legend. Thanks Sonny. Build him a statue @SpursOfficial
@coryscoys: Timing is right. But doesn’t make it easier to take 😫. Forever will be a legend at the club. World class player who has done so much for us, build the statue now 💙
Heung-Min Son has one of the most ridiculous goal catalogues of all-time ✨️
Today as good a day as ever to give it a watch 🇰🇷🍿 pic.twitter.com/g8KxEdoCsm
— Talking THFC (@TalkingTHFC) August 2, 2025
