South Korean footballer Son Heung-min will leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, ending a 10-year spell with the Premier League club, he said on Saturday, August 2.
Son, 33, is contracted to the club until 2026. He joined north London club Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. Son played a key role in the Europa League final victory over Manchester United in May, which saw Hotspur win their first trophy in 17 years.
“I have decided to leave the team this summer,” Korean star Son said at a news conference ahead of Hotspur’s preseason friendly against Newcastle United in Seoul on Sunday, according to Reuters.
“I think it was one of the most difficult decisions I’ve ever made in my football career. Playing football and being with one team for 10 years is something I am very proud of, but I think I gave my all to the team every single day,” he said.
“I did my best on the field and off the field, and by winning the Europa League, I thought I’d done everything I could and achieved.”
“It was the place where I grew a lot as a football player and a person, so I have a very grateful heart,” the Korean star added.
Manager Thomas Frank praised Son, saying he was truly a Hotspur legend in every aspect.
Korean legend Son has performed well for Hotspur, scoring 173 goals in 454 appearances. Son proved his mettle well when he won the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-22 season.
Next destination
Son has not made it clear which club he will move to in the future, but according to Reuters, British media have linked him with a move to Major League Soccer club Los Angeles FC.
Reuters’s reporting contributed to this article.