Son Heung-min set to leave Tottenham after emotional tribute and historic Premier League milestones
Son Heung-min has confirmed his decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur in the 2025 summer transfer window, with reports linking him to MLS side Los Angeles FC. After an emotional tribute in what was his final appearance for Spurs, Son departs the Premier League having reached several historic milestones in the competition.
Son joined Tottenham in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen for a €30 million fee. Over the course of a decade in North London, he became a club legend. His status was further solidified after helping end the club’s long trophy drought with last season’s Europa League title, capping off a truly unique legacy.
With Spurs scheduled to face Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul, South Korea, as part of their preseason tour, Son announced during a press conference on Saturday that it would be his final game for the club. The unexpected news sent shockwaves across the football world.
Starting against the Magpies, Son was subbed off by manager Thomas Frank in the 65th minute to a standing ovation from the home crowd. Both Tottenham and Newcastle players honored him with a guard of honor as he exited the pitch, visibly emotional as he took his place on the bench.
Son departs with historic Premier League records
While Park Ji-sung is widely recognized as a trailblazer for South Korean players in the Premier League, Son has taken that legacy to unprecedented heights. He leaves the league with the most appearances (333), goals (127), and assists (71) by any Asian player in Premier League history.
His 127 goals also place him second all-time among wingers in Premier League history, behind only Mohamed Salah (186). In doing so, Son has surpassed some of the league’s most iconic wide players, including Raheem Sterling (123), Sadio Mané (111), and Ryan Giggs (108).
Another testament to Son’s durability and importance: since his arrival in 2015, no player has made more Premier League appearances than him. From a Puskas Award-winning solo goal in 2019 to countless memorable moments, Son Heung-min’s name will go down as arguably the greatest Asian player in Premier League history.