South Korean soccer star Son Heung-min announced Saturday that he plans to leave the English Premier League and is reportedly close to signing a deal with LAFC.
LOS ANGELES (KABC) — South Korea international Son Heung-Min is poised to sign with MLS side LAFC, with an unveiling happening as soon as Wednesday, sources confirmed to ESPN.
After 10 years with Tottenham, the 33-year-old South Korean soccer star announced on Saturday that he is leaving the English Premier League club.
Son, who helped Spurs win the Europa League title in May, said it was “the most difficult” decision of his career and added the club was supporting him as he looks to find another team, with Los Angeles FC a possible landing spot.
Son was given an emotional farewell Sunday by his teammates, Newcastle players and almost 65,000 fans at Seoul World Cup Stadium.
The pre-season friendly in South Korea between the Premier League teams ended 1-1, with the high point being Son’s second-half exit in likely his last game for Tottenham. Son was surrounded by both sets of players before eventually sitting on the bench in tears.
Although not official, Son could be on the move to SoCal for a $26 million transfer fee. That figure would break the mark of $22 million Atlanta United FC spent last winter to acquire forward Emmanuel Latte Lath.
Son has been heavily linked with a move to LAFC, and there is reported interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.
He also confirmed in Korean that he would play at the World Cup next summer in North America.
Son scored 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 matches with the Spurs.
Son is set to join an LAFC side that currently sits in sixth place in MLS’s Western Conference, though the Black-and-Gold have at least two games in hand on the teams above them in the standings.
