Son Heung-min Emotionally Says Goodbye to Tottenham in Touching Departure Speech
Son Heung-min Bids Emotional Farewell to Tottenham Hotspur
Son Heung-min, a club legend at Tottenham Hotspur, said an emotional goodbye to the team during a pre-season friendly match in Seoul. The match, held before a passionate home crowd, was apparently Son's final game for the club.
Son, who became the most expensive Asian player in Premier League history when he transferred to Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen for approximately £22 million in 2015, shared his feelings about his departure on Saturday. He stated that he made "the most difficult" decision of his career in opting to leave Spurs after a decade.
Throughout his time at Tottenham, Son has made significant contributions to the team. He led them to their first trophy in 17 years by captaining them to victory in the Europa League final against Manchester United. In the 2021-22 season, Son became the first Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot, sharing the award with Mohamed Salah after both scored 23 goals.
Son's contributions extend beyond mere numbers. In the last season, he achieved his best figures for assists per 90 minutes and big chances created. His record for the most Premier League assists at Spurs with 71 is a testament to his impact on the team.
During the match in Seoul, teammate Brennan Johnson paid homage to Son by mimicking his signature celebration after scoring a goal early in the game. Son was visibly emotional, taking a moment to rest his head in his hands as he fought back tears.
The pre-season friendly concluded with a 1-1 draw at the Seoul World Cup Stadium. Son was embraced by his Spurs teammates and players from Newcastle United, who honored him with a guard of honor.
New Tottenham manager Thomas Frank faced concerns over the fitness of midfielder James Maddison, who had to be taken off on a stretcher shortly after his arrival on the field. The team experienced significant differences in performance based on Son's presence; Spurs won 42% of the 24 league matches he started compared to just 7% when he did not play.
Following Harry Kane's transfer to Bayern Munich, Son scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists in 35 league games during the subsequent season. However, last season marked the first time Son failed to reach double figures for league goals since his inaugural season, as Spurs finished just above the relegation zone.
Son Heung-min's future, however, seems to lie outside of Tottenham. Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) is in discussions with Son about a potential move and has confirmed his signing with a record MLS transfer fee of $26.5 million in August 2025.
Frank expressed that Son's farewell in South Korea would provide a "beautiful ending" to his Spurs chapter. As Son takes the next step in his career, he leaves behind a legacy of passion, skill, and dedication that will be remembered by Tottenham Hotspur fans for years to come.
