Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has announced his departure from the North London club after a memorable decade, bringing an end to a glittering era that saw him become one of the Premier League’s most respected forwards.
The 33-year-old made the heartfelt revelation during a press conference in Seoul, where Spurs are currently on their pre-season tour. “Before we start the press conference, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer,” Son told reporters, visibly emotional. “Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision.”
Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen and went on to make over 450 appearances, scoring 173 goals for the club. Despite lifting the Europa League trophy in May, Tottenham’s first European title in over four decades—he admitted it had been a challenging season, marred by recurring leg injuries and inconsistent form.
“It was the most difficult decision of my career. I’ve had such amazing memories at this club,” said Son, flanked by newly appointed Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who succeeded Ange Postecoglou in June. “I came to North London as a 23-year-old kid, and now I leave as a grown and very proud man.”
Son hinted that winning a European title played a major role in his decision to move on. “It felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could. I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about whether I needed a new challenge in a different environment,” he added.
Although he has not confirmed his next destination, Son has been strongly linked with a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
Thomas Frank expressed regret at not being able to work closely with Son. “He’s a Spurs legend and one of the greatest players to ever grace the Premier League,” the Danish coach said.
Tottenham are scheduled to face Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul, where Son is expected to receive a hero’s welcome from home fans. So far, Spurs’ summer transfer window has been relatively quiet, with Mohammed Kudusfrom West Ham their only major signing. A potential move for Morgan Gibbs-White collapsed despite advanced talks with Nottingham Forest over a £60 million deal.
