Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has officially announced that he will leave the club this summer, bringing to an end a remarkable ten-year journey that transformed him from a promising Bundesliga winger into one of the Premier League’s most adored and consistent stars.
In a heartfelt press conference held in Seoul, South Korea, where Tottenham are currently on their pre-season tour, the 33-year-old stood before a crowd of journalists and supporters with tears in his eyes as he broke the news many had feared but expected. The announcement marks the end of an era not just for Spurs but for the Premier League at large.
“Before we begin today’s press session, I want to share something very personal,” Son said. “After long conversations with my family and some deep thinking, I have decided that this summer will be my last as a Tottenham player. It is the most difficult decision I’ve ever had to make, but it’s time. I believe I’ve given all I can, and now it’s time for a new challenge and a new chapter.”
It was a moment that seemed frozen in time for the thousands of South Korean fans in attendance. Many of them had followed Son’s career since his teenage years at Hamburg and Leverkusen, and had watched with pride as he became the highest-scoring Asian player in Premier League history. His move to Tottenham in the summer of 2015 for £22 million was initially met with curiosity. A decade later, Son leaves North London as a club legend, having made 472 appearances and scored 173 goals across all competitions.
Despite his personal achievements, including winning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2022 and captaining both Tottenham and the South Korean national team, silverware had eluded him until the final season. In May 2025, he lifted the Europa League trophy with Spurs after a stunning 2–1 victory over AC Milan in the final. It was Tottenham’s first European trophy in 41 years and the first major honor of Son’s club career.
“That night in May, lifting that trophy, I felt something shift inside me,” Son admitted. “For the first time in my career, I felt a sense of completeness. I thought to myself, maybe this is the perfect time to close this chapter. I have won with this club. I’ve led them. I’ve seen us grow. But I’ve also felt my body speaking to me louder this season. Injuries come quicker now. Recovery takes longer. I must listen to that.”
Indeed, the 2024–25 season was a physically demanding one for the South Korean forward. He missed 11 league matches due to a recurring hamstring problem and had to be carefully managed throughout Spurs’ deep Europa League run. Though his output remained respectable — 12 goals and 9 assists in all competitions — he was no longer the tireless runner who terrorized defenses week in, week out.
Still, there’s no question about the scale of Son’s contribution to Tottenham’s history. From his thunderbolt against Chelsea in 2018 to his solo goal against Burnley that won FIFA’s Puskás Award, Son delivered time and again in the big moments. Off the pitch, his humility, charm, and loyalty turned him into a global ambassador for Spurs and for Asian football at large.
When asked about his future, Son remained coy, refusing to confirm or deny reports linking him with a move to Major League Soccer in the United States or a potential return to Germany. However, sources close to the player suggest that Son is leaning toward a move to Los Angeles, where several MLS clubs are reportedly battling for his signature.
“I won’t speak about the next step today,” he said. “Today is for looking back, for saying thank you. I will have time to talk about the future later. But I will say this ; wherever I go, Tottenham will always be a part of me. I have friends here. I have family here. This club changed my life.”
Newly appointed Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who took over from Ange Postecoglou in June, also spoke to the press and admitted that while he had hoped to convince Son to stay for one more season, he respected the player’s decision.
“For any manager in the world, coaching Son would be an honor,” Frank said. “He’s a leader. He’s a warrior. And more than anything, he’s a man of incredible character. His impact on this club is impossible to measure. Son is one of the greatest to ever wear the shirt, and his legacy will live on long after he leaves.”
Tottenham fans are now preparing for an emotional farewell during the final game of the Korea tour, a pre-season clash against Newcastle United scheduled for Sunday in Seoul. The club is already planning a tribute ceremony, which may include a special highlight reel, a jersey retirement announcement, or a testimonial match in London later in the year.
Back in England, the mood among Spurs supporters is bittersweet. While many acknowledge that Son’s decision makes sense given his age and injury record, the thought of Tottenham without their beloved No. 7 is difficult to process. Social media tributes have poured in from fans, former teammates, pundits, and rival players alike.
Meanwhile, the club faces an urgent need to reshape its attacking line. With Son gone and Richarlison struggling for form, much will rest on Ghanaian midfielder Mohammed Kudus, who arrived from West Ham earlier in the summer. Talks to sign Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White collapsed late in July, leaving fans anxious about where the goals will come from next season.
But for now, the focus remains on honoring a decade of memories crafted by one of Tottenham’s greatest ever players. Son Heung-min didn’t just play football. He brought joy, style, and sincerity to a club that has often been defined by near-misses and heartbreaks.
In the end, Son gave Spurs what they needed most – a hero worth believing in. And though the curtain is falling on his time in North London, the applause will echo for years.
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