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Tottenham Hotspur fans witnessed an emotional farewell on Sunday as club legend Son Heung-min played his final match for the North London side. The 33-year-old South Korean forward featured for just over an hour in Spurs' pre-season friendly against Newcastle United before being substituted, marking the end of an era.
A decade of brilliance
Signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, Son leaves behind a remarkable legacy at Tottenham. Over ten seasons, he made 454 appearances across all competitions, scoring 173 goals and providing 101 assists.
He etched his name into Spurs folklore by captaining the side to Europa League glory in May, defeating Manchester United in a thrilling final.
Despite still having a year left on his contract, Son confirmed his decision to part ways with the club this summer. The announcement comes while Tottenham are on a pre-season tour in South Korea, his home country making the moment even more poignant.
A heartfelt send-off
In the match against Newcastle, Son was substituted 19 minutes into the second half, replaced by new signing Mohammed Kudus. As he walked off the pitch, his teammates surrounded him with hugs, applause, and warm gestures of appreciation. Players from Newcastle also joined in, offering their own tributes to the departing star.
Son was visibly emotional as he made his way to the sidelines, with coaching staff and substitutes rising to applaud his contributions over the years.
Looking Ahead: MLS move on the horizon
Having played in both of Spurs’ matches during the Far East tour including a substitute appearance in a 1-0 win over Arsenal in Hong Kong, Son is now reportedly in advanced talks with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC. A move to the U.S. appears imminent.
During a tearful press conference in South Korea on Friday, Son confirmed his intentions to leave, saying:
Before we start the press conference, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer. Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision.
It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision.
I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change—10 years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age. I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man.
I want to say thank you to all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love. I hope the goodbye is also good timing and this is the right time to make that decision. I hope everyone can accept that and respect that.
The pre-season match with Newcastle United finished in a 1-1 draw.
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