Son Heung-min to leave Tottenham this summer after decade
The 33-year-old attacker joined the Premier League side from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and went on to play more than 450 times for Spurs.
In May he lifted the Europa League trophy but he had a poor season overall by his high standards and struggled with injury.
"Before we start the press conference I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer," the South Korean told reporters in Seoul, where Tottenham are on a pre-season tour.
"Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision."
Son, who has scored 173 goals for Spurs, did not say where he intends to go next and cut an emotional figure.
"It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision," he said, flanked by new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.
"I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change -- 10 years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age. I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man."
Frank, who joined Spurs from Brentford this summer, paid tribute to the South Korean skipper.
"For me, personally, I would have loved to have worked with this fantastic person and player," said the Dane, who took over from the sacked Ange Postecoglou.
"He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect, one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League.
"It is never easy to find the perfect timing and me coming in from the side, it makes it a bit easier to end on a high."
bur-pst/tym
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Tottenham former phenom considers shock retirement at age 29
He was a phenom. But now, at the age of 29, he might be done with his footballing career. Dele Alli is reportedly considering retirement, with Italian media sharing that Alli isn't in Como's plans in Serie A and may hang up his cleats instead of pursuing a new opportunity. It'd be a brutal ending to a career that for so long had so much promise. Dele grew up in Milton Keynes and signed with MK Dons' youth system at 11. He broke into the senior side at 16 and scored 24 goals in 88 appearances there. Tottenham signed Dele at that point, and in each of his first two seasons with Spurs, he was voted PFA Young Player of the Year. After Mauricio Pochettino left, Dele's relationships with Spurs' new managers weren't as good, and his form dipped. He left for Everton at that point. Dele also spent time on loan at Besiktas in Turkey. He only made it to Como in January 2025. At his peak, Dele donned an England kit, too, earning 37 caps. He scored a goal in the 2018 World Cup as England reached the semifinals. Dele scored 51 goals in 181 career appearances at Tottenham Hotspur. He made only one appearance with Como, and was sent off with a red card after just 10 minutes on the pitch for a nasty challenge on fellow Englishman Ruben Loftus-Cheek. If this is indeed the end for Dele, it's a sad one. He once was what journalist Phil McNulty described as "the golden boy of English football." But in McNulty's words as well, he declined to a "lost talent." MORE: LeBron James could turn into NBA's biggest competition with $200 million from Saudi Arabia
Yahoo
28 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Cumbrian teenage footballer signs for Chelsea Women's Academy
A Cumbrian teenager is hoping her dreams of becoming a Lionesses is one step closer after being signed for a prestigious national football academy. Carla Gardiner, 16, was signed for the next two seasons of the Chelsea Women's Academy based in Cobham, Surrey. Carla, who is originally from Arnside, started playing football for local boys teams including Kendal United and Milnthorpe boys before going on to take part in academies at Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool and Manchester United. Carla's dad Martin said: 'Towards the end of this season and in the middle of her GCSE exams she received a call from Chelsea Women's Football Club interested to sign her for the Women's Academy U21 and inviting Carla down to Cobham to look around their training facilities which are shared with Chelsea men's team. 'From starting to play at eight years old with her brother George, to now moving down to Surrey to a homestay to start pre-season, Carla is keen to try and become a topflight professional player and hopefully also represent The Lionesses in the coming years.' Read more Milnthorpe man raises £4,000 for charity through wing walk Carnforth residents named as £1,000 postcode lottery winners Chelsea FC Women's Academy is one of several programs run by the football club for girls interested in the sport, offering an opportunity to develop their football skills while continuing their education. Carla and her team are set to go on a preseason tour to Spain, playing matches in the National Academy U21 League and competing in National Open Age Cup competitions.
Yahoo
37 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Liverpool signing finally makes debut alongside wonderkid after return from Asia tour
Two Liverpool summer signings made their first appearances for the club's Under-21s on Saturday as it played out a 0-0 draw against Hull City's youth team. The Under-21s have no official fixtures confirmed yet for the upcoming season, with the Premier League still to make an announcement on the schedule for the Under-21 league, but in the meantime, the underage side has played four summer matches. After wins over Celtic and Lens, plus a draw against Wigan Athletic, Liverpool hosted Hull on Saturday. In total, 21 players featured for Rob Page's side, with all 10 outfielders changed after an hour. Goalkeeper Armin Pecsi was the only player to manage the full 90 minutes. READ MORE: Liverpool goalkeeper suffers nightmare start to loan after controversial penalty in heavy defeat READ MORE: Liverpool confirms appointment of 'highly regarded' Man Utd coach The Hungarian joined the Reds from Puskas Akademia earlier this summer and was one of seven new arrivals this window to travel with Arne Slot's first-team squad on the pre-season tour of Asia. But Pecsi, who has come in mainly to play for the Under-21s and strengthen the backup group supporting Alisson, didn't play a single minute of the matches against AC Milan and Yokohama However, as featured in the 5-0 win over Stoke City, Saturday's outing against Hull wasn't his first in a Liverpool shirt. Another summer signing, Will Wright, did make his bow the Reds. His move from Salford City was only completed this week, and he is also expected to play for the Under-21s this term. The 17-year-old had attracted interest from Arsenal, but opted to remain in the north-west. Fans will certainly keep an eye on the forward's progress this season given his high-profile transfer. Meanwhile, several other familiar names were on show for Liverpool on Saturday at the AXA Training Centre. Calvin Ramsey and Lewis Koumas were among the starters, while Amara Nallo, Kieran Morrison and Kaide Gordon came off the bench. The Under-21s will be hoping for an improved campaign in 2025/26 and finished 16th in a 26-team league last term. Page's appointment is seen as a coup for the academy, with Simon Wiles confirmed as Under-18 head coach on Friday. Speaking in a recent interview with Liverpool's club website, Page spoke of his excitement to return to the club game. 'They [Liverpool] have had difficult moments over the years [at youth level] and even more so recently, and seeing the club react to it all together, the connection between the players, the supporters and the staff has been incredible. This is a very special club. 'For me to come back into development football at a massive club like Liverpool – who smashed the Premier League last season, seeing what they have done in the transfer window again – and work with some of the younger talents here and try to help develop top players into the first-team environment or help them to go on and have careers elsewhere, it was definitely an exciting option for me.'
