Son Heung-min has officially joined Los Angeles FC in a record-breaking transfer for Major League Soccer, ending his decade-long stint at Tottenham Hotspur. The 33-year-old South Korean forward was unveiled at BMO Stadium on Wednesday, where he expressed his excitement about the move and his ambition to win trophies with the club.
“I’m here to win, and I will perform,” Son said at a packed news conference. “I will definitely show you something exciting ... I will definitely show some exciting football, and we definitely will have success.” The Athletic reported that LAFC paid a fee in the region of $26.5 million for Son, though neither club disclosed financial details.
Son admitted that joining LAFC was not initially his first choice, but conversations with general manager John Thorrington changed his mind. “He just changed my mind. He changed my heart. He changed my brain. He showed me the destination where I should be. Right now, I’m here. I’m more than happy,” Son said. He also revealed that his former Tottenham teammate Hugo Lloris, now LAFC’s starting goalkeeper, had pitched the move aggressively.
Son is widely regarded as the greatest Asian soccer player in history and is South Korea’s most popular athlete. He said he already feels at home in Los Angeles, which has the world’s largest ethnic Korean population outside Korea. His introductory event was attended by Los Angeles mayor Karen Bass, South Korea’s consul general, and dozens of fans from the LAFC supporters’ group.
Son joins a list of European stars who have moved to LAFC, including Gareth Bale, Giorgio Chiellini, and Olivier Giroud. He did not appear to be in decline during his final season at Tottenham and said he is in good shape after participating in Spurs’ summer tour of Asia. “I just felt like I need a new chapter, I need a new challenge, and I choose LAFC,” Son said. “I think we can say I’m old, but I still have a good physicality, good legs, and still have a good quality.”
