Tottenham Hotspur formally confirmed the departure of membership legend Son Heung-min on Wednesday night by sharing a video of the 33-year-old saying goodbye.
The video — which was posted through social media and captioned: ‘Expensive Spurs followers… Sonny’s letter to you’ — was accompanied by sombre music.
It started with Son sitting down in entrance of a digital camera and saying: ‘Expensive Spurs followers, you are all the time in my photos. Each time I have fun I make a reminiscence of you. It is our second. I make the body, so I do not overlook.’
This was a reference to Son’s trademark objective celebration, which sees him mime taking a photograph. It’s a celebration Tottenham supporters have seen so much, contemplating Son has netted 173 objectives since becoming a member of the membership from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015.
Son continued: ‘You welcomed me to north London, you watched me develop. Lovely moments; the Golden Boot, the Puskas award… you had been there. After I suffered you had been nonetheless there. You stayed with me and I stayed with you.
‘I by no means imagined captaining this staff, however I all the time dreamed that I might win one thing for you. We gained the Europa League, and also you all deserve it. Thanks for these years. Hold each image. You had been all the time within the body. Thanks a lot, love Sonny.’
Son Heung-min mentioned an emotional goodbye to Spurs followers in a video revealed on Wednesday
The 33-year-old membership legend learn out a letter that started: ‘Expensive Spurs followers, you are all the time in my photos’ – a reference to his trademark objective celebration
Moments after posting the video, Spurs uploaded a 419-word assertion on their official membership web site.
It started: ‘The Membership can affirm the everlasting switch of Heung-Min Son to LAFC.
‘Sonny, 33, arrived at Tottenham Hotspur a decade in the past – in August, 2015 – and has since established himself as one of many Membership’s all-time greats. The South Korea worldwide went on to make 454 appearances in Lilywhite, scoring 173 objectives, the fifth-highest tally in our historical past.
‘Appointed captain in 2023, there have been numerous memorable moments for Sonny on the pitch throughout his decade on the Membership. In April, 2019, he etched his identify into the historical past books with the primary official objective on the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and later that very same season was an integral member of the primary Spurs facet to achieve a Champions League remaining, scoring essential objectives within the spherical of 16 and quarter-final.
‘Sonny gained the FIFA Puskas Award in 2020 for a unprecedented solo objective in opposition to Burnley, which noticed him dribble the size of the pitch earlier than discovering the online. Each a scorer of nice objectives and a terrific goalscorer, he added to his private accolades in 2021/22, receiving the Premier League Golden Boot for his 23-goal return within the division.
‘Throughout his time on the Membership, Sonny additionally grew to become the highest-scoring Asian participant in Premier League historical past and, along with main South Korea to Asian Video games success in 2018, has been named ‘Greatest Footballer in Asia’ a file 9 instances.
‘Sonny’s biggest achievement in our colors got here in Might, 2025, as he led the Membership to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao. By doing so, he wrote his identify into Spurs folklore, turning into considered one of 13 captains in our historical past to carry a significant trophy.’
Spurs chairman Daniel Levy was quoted as saying: ‘Sonny is likely one of the biggest gamers to ever put on the well-known Lilywhite shirt and he has been a pleasure to look at over the previous decade. Not solely is he a splendidly gifted footballer, however he is additionally an unimaginable human being who has touched hearts and impressed individuals all through the Membership and everywhere in the world.
Son additionally informed Tottenham supporters: ‘We gained the Europa League, and also you all deserve it’
Son was pictured within the stands throughout new membership LAFC’s 2-1 victory over Tigres on Tuesday
Membership icon Son waved goodbye to Spurs followers eventually week’s 1-1 draw with Newcastle in Seoul
‘The Europa League triumph in Bilbao was a very magical second within the Membership’s historical past and Sonny lifting the trophy is an ideal lasting reminiscence from his unbelievable decade at Tottenham Hotspur.
‘Sonny has given a lot to this Membership, each on and off the pitch, and for that we’re perpetually grateful. We want him all the perfect for the longer term, and he’ll all the time be welcome again on the Membership as a beloved and cherished member of our Spurs household.’
Spurs later posted a video of Son’s remaining interview earlier than his transfer to LAFC. In it he mentioned: ‘It is onerous to speak as a result of I do not know the place to begin…
‘I grew up in robust locations. I got here right here… one factor was clear, , I needed to present my all. So, as a child, after I began soccer, this was all the time in my head, as a result of performance-wise, I believe it may very well be ups and downs, ups and downs, however I give it my all. I believe you are able to do it each single time. So, that is me and that is how I practice, that is how I discovered from my mother and father.
‘I got here to north London 10 years in the past. I used to be very nervous, to be sincere. Earlier than I joined Spurs, I used to be very younger, and having periods with some groups in England, and it was fairly tough as a result of I could not communicate English and it felt like all people simply wasn’t having me, so I did not have actually good recollections within the UK, if I am sincere. However after I went to White Hart Lane – clearly it was nonetheless White Hart Lane after I joined – after I walked in, all people simply welcomed me to north London. I had a particular feeling, however afterwards I needed to do the English interview, so I used to be fairly a bit nervous as a result of I could not communicate English! I nonetheless keep in mind that I simply mentioned, ‘I am joyful to be right here’, and I used to be simply so excited.
‘I made a courageous resolution as a result of it was the Premier League and Spurs and (hoping) that every thing would come collectively. Clearly, the concern was nonetheless there, however I simply needed to make my concern not exist. My dream was to play within the Premier League, , and do no matter I might, attempt to be the perfect participant on this planet. That call was most likely top-of-the-line selections I’ve ever made.
Son’s £20million-plus transfer to LAFC makes him the most costly participant in MLS historical past.
Son was thrown into the air by his adoring team-mates after his remaining sport for Tottenham
Earlier than that match, Son broke into tears when he introduced his resolution to go away Spurs
It was no secret that the 33-year-old was on his means this summer time. Certainly, he had already been noticed within the stands throughout LAFC’s 2-1 win over Tigres on Tuesday.
Talking final week earlier than his remaining look for Spurs in a pre-season pleasant in his native South Korea, Son broke into tears at a press convention as he declared: ‘I’ve determined to go away the membership this summer time. Respectfully the membership helps me with this resolution.
‘It was essentially the most tough resolution I’ve made in my profession. Such superb recollections. It was so onerous to make the choice.
‘I got here to north London as a child – a really younger age, a younger boy got here to London who even did not communicate English. Leaving this membership as a grown man is a really, very proud second.’
Son will reunite with former Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris at LAFC.
The Los Angeles facet topped the Western Convention final season, however misplaced to Seattle Sounders within the playoffs earlier than metropolis rivals LA Galaxy gained the MLS Cup.
