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Tottenham captain Heung-Min Son has introduced he’ll deliver his 10-year keep in north London to an finish this summer season, with a transfer to Main League Soccer aspect Los Angeles FC now shut.
The 33-year-old joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has gone on to attain 173 objectives in 454 matches for the membership.
His honours embody captaining the workforce to victory over Manchester United in Might’s Europa League ultimate, a triumph that ended a 17-year watch for silverware.
Regardless of having two years left on his present contract, Son has confirmed that he intends to go away, describing the choice as “essentially the most tough one I’ve made in my profession” throughout a press convention in Seoul alongside new supervisor Thomas Frank.
“I got here to North London as a child – a really younger age, a younger boy got here to London who even didn’t communicate English,” he mirrored.
“Leaving this membership as a grown man is a really, very proud second.”
Farewell on house soil?
Spurs are at present in South Korea for pre-season, the place they may face Newcastle United on Sunday.
Son is anticipated to start out and put on the armband, that means his ultimate recreation for Tottenham may are available entrance of his house supporters.
Frank, who took over from Ange Postecoglou in June, paid tribute to his captain, calling him “a real Spurs legend” and “one of many best gamers to play within the Premier League.”
“If that’s the final recreation for Sonny, what a spot to do it right here in entrance of his house followers,” Frank stated. “It might be a gorgeous ending.”
Tottenham even have the Tremendous Cup in opposition to Paris Saint-Germain on 13 August, however the timing of his anticipated switch means Son might not be out there for that fixture.
Son’s impression since arriving in England has been immense. Throughout 333 Premier League appearances, he has scored 127 objectives, drawing stage with Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink in sixteenth place on the league’s all-time scoring record, surpassing notable names corresponding to Dwight Yorke, Steven Gerrard and Ian Wright.
Alongside Harry Kane, now at Bayern Munich, Son shaped probably the most prolific attacking partnerships in English soccer historical past.
Collectively, they mixed for a document 47 Premier League objectives, with 24 scored by Son and 23 by Kane.
Throughout the 2021-22 season, Son grew to become the primary Asian participant to win the Premier League Golden Boot, sharing the award with Mohamed Salah due to his 23-goal haul.
A 12 months later, he grew to become the primary Asian footballer to succeed in 100 Premier League objectives.
He additionally holds the membership’s document for many Premier League assists (71) and ranks sixth on Tottenham’s all-time appearances record, behind solely Cyril Knowles, Pat Jennings, Gary Mabbutt, Steve Perryman and Glenn Hoddle.
Why now?
The South Korean ahead admitted that lifting a European trophy with Spurs this 12 months gave him a way of closure.
“I would like a brand new setting to push myself. I would like a little bit little bit of change – 10 years is a very long time,” Son stated.
“I spent a whole lot of time reflecting on whether or not I needed to expertise soccer in a special setting, and I had these conversations with myself time and again.”
Since becoming a member of in 2015, Son has additionally offered 101 assists in all competitions and performed in Tottenham’s 2019 Champions League ultimate defeat to Liverpool.
He was appointed membership captain in August 2023 after Hugo Lloris stepped down from the position.
If Sunday’s match in opposition to Newcastle proves to be his farewell, it’ll mark the tip of a rare chapter for one among Tottenham’s greatest-ever gamers.
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