Son Heung-min: LAFC Transfer from Tottenham Confirmed

When Tottenham captain Son Heung-min announced his departure at a press conference in South Korea last summer, it marked the end of an era for one of the Premier League’s most beloved foreign exports. After a decade at Spurs—including that unforgettable 2025 Europa League triumph—Son is now making MLS history, and the numbers behind his move tell a story worth knowing.

Age: 33 ·
Height: 183cm ·
Position: Left Winger ·
Premier League Goals: 127 ·
Market Value: €17.00m

The table below consolidates the key personal and professional details that define Son’s profile at the time of his record-breaking transfer.

Is Son actually leaving Tottenham?

Yes—Son Heung-min has departed Tottenham Hotspur after a decade at the club. The South Korean international announced his move at a press conference held ahead of Tottenham’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle in South Korea, bringing down the curtain on a chapter that began in 2015.

Recent announcements

Son broke the news to the media on location in South Korea, where he had traveled with Tottenham for their Asian pre-season commitments. Tottenham manager Thomas Frank confirmed he had known of Son’s decision ahead of the club’s first pre-season fixture at Reading, suggesting the move had been in the works longer than many realized.

Contract status

At the time of his departure, Son was serving as Tottenham’s club captain—a role he held with distinction. He departs having led the club to their first major trophy in 17 years when Tottenham won the Europa League in May 2025, with Son captaining the side to that historic victory.

The implication: Son exits Tottenham on the highest possible note, having delivered the one achievement that eluded the club during his entire decade-long tenure.

Why is Son moving to LAFC?

Despite turning 33, Son chose to leave European football for MLS—not because his European options had dried up, but because he actively wanted this particular move. LAFC beat out renewed interest from Saudi Arabia to secure his signature, with the California club willing to pay a record-breaking transfer fee.

Decision factors

Son had attracted a lucrative offer from Saudi Arabian side Al Ittihad back in June 2023 but opted to remain at Tottenham at that time. Two years later, with his Tottenham chapter concluded on a high, he turned down renewed Saudi interest to pursue the MLS adventure instead.

MLS appeal

LAFC’s project clearly appealed to Son’s sensibilities. The club was sitting in sixth place in MLS’s Western Conference at the time of his signing, with at least two games in hand on the teams above them—positioning that suggested genuine playoff potential. Add in the California lifestyle and MLS’s growing global profile, and the move made strategic sense on multiple fronts.

Why this matters: LAFC’s willingness to pay record fees for aging stars signals a new phase in MLS’s ambition, competing directly with Saudi Arabia for established international talent.

Has Son left Spurs?

Son’s departure is finalized. The transfer was completed on August 6, 2025, with LAFC confirming the signing and Tottenham issuing their own statements acknowledging the club legend’s exit. Son’s final match for Tottenham was the pre-season friendly against Newcastle, held in South Korea just before the announcement.

Official confirmation

Both clubs confirmed the move through official channels. LAFC announced the signing as a club record, while Tottenham thanked Son publicly for his decade of service. The South Korean media presence at his announcement press conference reflected just how significant this transfer registers in Son’s home country.

How much is LAFC paying Son?

LAFC paid a reported fee of $26.5 million for Son Heung-min, breaking the previous MLS transfer record held by Atlanta United’s $22 million purchase of Emmanuel Latte Lath. This marks the third time MLS set a new incoming transfer record within nine months—FC Cincinnati’s $16.2 million signing of Kévin Denkey had set the first benchmark earlier in 2025.

Salary ranking

While exact salary figures remain undisclosed, Son’s LAFC contract reportedly makes him the second-highest paid player in MLS, behind only Lionel Messi at Inter Miami. That positioning reflects both his market value and the premium LAFC placed on landing a proven Premier League goal scorer.

Contract details

The exact length and structure of Son’s contract with LAFC has not been publicly disclosed as of this writing. Sources indicated his unveiling was expected within days of the announcement, though specific salary benchmarks remain private.

The pattern: MLS clubs have increasingly accepted that record transfer fees and top salaries must go hand-in-hand—the days of finding value deals for global stars are clearly over.

Are Son and Kane still friends?

Son Heung-min and Harry Kane remain close despite now playing thousands of miles apart. Kane, who departed Tottenham for Bayern Munich back in 2023, commented publicly on his former teammate’s move, describing Son as a “lifelong friend” while acknowledging they would now be competing in entirely separate leagues.

Recent statements

Kane’s public comments came amid widespread reaction to Son’s transfer announcement, with the England captain taking to social media to wish his former Spurs teammate well. The warmth of Kane’s message reflected the bond forged during their five years playing together in North London.

Relationship history

Son and Kane formed one of the Premier League’s most lethal attacking partnerships during their time together at Tottenham. Their on-field chemistry translated into off-field friendship, with both players publicly crediting each other for their respective development during that period. They now find themselves on different continents—Kane in the Bundesliga, Son in MLS—yet the mutual respect appears undiminished.

What this means: The Son-Kane partnership that defined Tottenham’s attacking identity for half a decade is now fully dissolved, with both stars writing new chapters in different leagues.

For MLS, landing Son represents a watershed moment—the league has now outbid Saudi Arabia for a global star, signaling that American soccer can compete for elite talent on its own terms. Tottenham loses their captain after the club’s first trophy in nearly two decades, marking the end of a foundational era, with the $26.5 million fee providing both resources and a symbolic closing chapter.