Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has announced he will leave the club this summer, marking the end of a decade-long spell with the north London side.
The 33-year-old South Korean forward made the emotional announcement on Saturday during a press conference in Seoul, where Spurs are currently on their pre-season tour. Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen and has since made over 450 appearances, scoring 173 goals and cementing his legacy as one of the club’s greatest-ever players.
“Before we start the press conference, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer,” Son said. “Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision.”
Son, who led Spurs to a Europa League title in May, the club’s first European trophy in 41 years, said the win played a significant role in his decision. “Winning a title in Europe felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could,” he said in Korean.
Despite that high point, Son admitted to a challenging season, citing recurring leg injuries and a dip in form by his own standards. “I need a new environment to push myself. Ten years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid at 23, and now I leave as a grown man, a very proud man,” he reflected.
The star forward has not revealed his next destination, though he has been strongly linked with a move to Major League Soccer (MLS) in the United States.
New Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who took over in June following Ange Postecoglou’s departure, expressed his regret at not being able to work with Son. “He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect, one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League,” Frank said.
Son is expected to receive a hero’s send-off from home fans when Tottenham face Newcastle United in a friendly match in Seoul on Sunday.
Meanwhile, Spurs’ summer transfer activity remains relatively quiet, with Mohammed Kudus joining from West Ham as their only major signing. A potential £60 million deal for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White recently collapsed.
Written By Rodney Mbua
