South Korean football icon Son Heung-min has announced he will leave Tottenham Hotspur this summer, bringing an end to his remarkable 10-year spell with the North London club ahead of the new Premier League season.
The 33-year-old, a national hero in South Korea, confirmed the news during a press conference in Seoul before a pre-season friendly against Newcastle United. His departure comes amid reports linking him with a move to Major League Soccer in the United States.
“Before we start the press conference, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer,” Son told reporters. “Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision.”
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Describing it as “the most difficult decision I have made in my career,” Son added: “I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change – 10 years is a long time.”
Reflecting on his journey, he said: “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.”
Son joined Spurs from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and went on to become one of the club’s most iconic players, scoring 173 goals in 454 appearances. He formed a legendary attacking duo with Harry Kane and took over the captaincy following Kane’s departure. He was joint top scorer in the Premier League in the 2021–22 season, netting 23 goals alongside Liverpool’s Mohamed Salah.
His Spurs career was capped with silverware this past May, when he lifted the Europa League trophy after a victory over Manchester United in the final.
On the international stage, Son has scored 51 goals in 134 appearances for South Korea, solidifying his status as the country’s most celebrated athlete.
New Spurs manager Thomas Frank paid tribute to Son, calling him “a true Spurs legend in every aspect — one of the greatest players to ever play in the Premier League.”
