Son Heung-min. Photo by Visual China
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club in the English Premier League announced on the 2nd that captain Son Heung-min has decided to leave the club this summer, ending his ten-year career at Tottenham.
Son Heung-min is currently preparing for a friendly match against Newcastle United in Seoul, South Korea, on the 3rd. At a pre-match press conference held on the 2nd, he made the announcement of his departure. He said: “I have decided to leave the club this summer. The club respects and assists me in making this decision. It was the toughest decision of my career. I have such wonderful memories here, and it’s really difficult to make this decision.”
Son Heung-min expressed that after 10 years in the Premier League, he has gained a lot and now it’s time to say goodbye. He said: “I need a new environment to motivate myself. Ten years is already quite a long time. When I first arrived in North London as a child, just 23 years old, very young. Now, when I leave this club, I am an adult and a very proud man.”
The South Korean international joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, signing a five-year contract. Initially, adapting to the pace of the Premier League and life in London was challenging, and he had already started thinking about leaving within a year. However, he changed his mind and decided to continue competing in the Premier League, leaving his own mark on the field.
Ten years later, Son Heung-min left with an Eurpoean Champions League medal and also received numerous individual honors, including the Premier League Golden Boot in the 2021-2022 season, and the Puskás Award (the best goal of the year) in 2019, thanks to his long-range run against Burnley.
During his tenure, he scored 173 goals in 454 appearances for Tottenham. In May this year, as captain, he led Tottenham to defeat Manchester United in the final of the Eurpoean Champions League, winning the team its first trophy in 17 years.
Son Heung-min’s outstanding contributions to the club have earned him love and admiration from both Tottenham players and fans.
Tottenham’s head coach Frank described Son Heung-min as “a true Tottenham legend” and “one of the greatest players in Premier League history.”
Son Heung-min’s close friend and former Tottenham teammate Kevin Werner told British media in an interview: “I don’t know if we will see another Son Heung-min at Tottenham. In today’s era, being able to play for a club – especially one like Tottenham – for a full decade is a very special achievement.”