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Son Heung-min has dazzled fans around the globe with his blistering pace, clinical finishes, and undeniable charisma.
In the same way, the 33-year-old South Korean superstar has made headlines yet again – not for a goal or assist, but for a landmark transfer to LAFC in Major League Soccer (MLS) after 10 historic years at Tottenham Hotspur.
Son’s move signals not only the end of an era in North London but also the beginning of a new chapter in North American football.
SON HEUNG-MIN EARLY DAYS: FROM SOUTH KOREA TO GERMANY’S BUNDESLIGA
Born in Chuncheon, South Korea, on July 8, 1992, Son started his football journey under the guidance of his father, a former professional player.
At just 16, he joined the Hamburger SV youth academy in Germany, quickly rising through the ranks to make his senior debut in 2010.
In 2013, he transferred to Bayer Leverkusen, where his pace and two-footed ability caught the eye of Europe’s top clubs.
However, it was in 2015, when Tottenham Hotspur paid £22 million for his services, that Son began to make his indelible mark on world football.
A DECADE OF BRILLIANCE AT TOTTENHAM
Son became the heartbeat of Spurs from 2015 to 2025 whether he partnered with Harry Kane or scored solo wonder goals.
As he led the line during the team’s injury crises, Son earned the reputation as one of the Premier League’s most reliable forwards.
TOTTENHAM STATS SNAPSHOT (2015-2025):
- Total Appearances: 406
- Total Goals: 152
- Assists: 81
- Premier League Golden Boot (2021-22, shared with Mohamed Salah)
- Tottenham Hotspur Player of the Season: 3 times
- First Asian player to captain a Premier League team full-time
More than stats, Son provided loyalty and leadership. He stayed with Spurs through the rebuilding process and led the team into multiple Champions League campaigns.
Likewise, he served as club captain in the 2023-24 and 2024-25 seasons.
FROM HAMBURGER TO SPUR
Son joined Hamburger SV at 16 years old upon relocating to Germany before he made his Bundesliga debut in 2010.
The 32-year-old moved to Bayer Leverkusen for a club record €10 million in 2013.
He would later sign for Tottenham Hotspur in 2015, when he rose to become one of the best forwards in the world.
International Career
- National Team: South Korea
- Senior Debut: December 30, 2010
- Captain: since 2019
- Milestone: Was team captain when Taeguk Warriors reached Round of 16 at 2022 FIFA World Cup and won gold at 2018 Asian Games.
Son’s first exposure with national team duty came in 2009, when he was named in South Korea’s roster for the U-17 World Cup in Nigeria in 2009.
He would make his seniors debut in a pre-tournament friendly against Syria on December 30.
Son declined a chance to play for South Korea in the 2012 London Olympics to focus on his career at Hamburger SV at the time
The two-footed forward would eventually play for the Taeguk Warriors in the 2014, 2018 and 2022 World Cups.
Son would later be named as one of three over-aged players for South Korea’s lineup for the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
He would help the Taeguk Warriors beat Japan, 2-1, in the final to claim the gold medal and had the entire team exempted from mandatory military service in South Korea.
Major Tournaments Played
- FIFA World Cup: 2014 (Group Stage), 2018 (Group Stage), 2022 (Round-of-16 – as captain)
- AFC Asian Cup: 2011 (3rd place), 2015 (runners-up), 2019 (quarterfinals)
- Olympic Games: 2016 (Rio, Quarterfinals – as overage player)
- Asian Games: 2018 (Indonesia, Gold Medal – as overage player and captain)
- FIFA World Cup Qualifier: 2014, 2018, 2022 (all qualified)
SON HEUNG-MIN TO START NEW ERA AT LAFC
Son Heung-min joined LAFC in the summer of 2025 on a free transfer after his contract with Tottenham expired.
What’s more, Son is headed to the Major League Soccer (MLS) club for a fee of around USD26 million.
This figure broke the USD22 million Atlanta FC spent to acquire forward Emmanuel Latte Lath in the winter of 2024.
A standing ovation greeted Son on his final game for Spurs in a friendly against Newcastle United in his hometown Seoul on August 3, 2025.
“It was a perfect moment. Sharing these beautiful moments are something that I will never forget and I will always appreciate it – from the fans, the players and the gaffer,” Son said.
Subsequently, Son joined an LAFC side that went sixth place in MLS’s Western Conference in the 2024-25 season.
Player Data
- Key Attributes: Acceleration, two-footed ability, positioning, stamina, finishing
- Strengths:
Explosive pace, accurate shooting with both feet, deadly counterattacks, leadership, consistency in big games - Weaknesses:
Occasional dips in playing form when under pressure
Career Highlights
- South national team captain since 2019.
- Won golf medal at 2018 Asian Games, earning exemption from military service
- Scored in three-straight FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022)
- First Asian player to win Premier League Golden Boot (2021-22, shared with Mo Salah)
- Scored over 150 goals for Tottenham Hotspur since joining in 2015
- Named Best Footballer in Asia from 2014-23.
- Key player in Spurs’ run to UEFA Champions League Final (2019)
- South Korea’s all-time leading top scorer in World Cup history (with three goals)
- First Asian player to be named captain of Premier League team full-time (Tottenham, 2023-24 season)
Statistics
Club Appearances and Statistics:
- Total Appearances: 577
- Total Goals: 175
| Club | Years | Appearances (Total) | Goals (Total) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hamburger SV | 2010–2013 | 78 | 20 |
| Bayer Leverkusen | 2013-2015 | 87 | 29 |
| Tottenham Hotspur | 2015-Present | 412 | 126 |
| VfB Stuttgart | 2019-2023 | 133 | 15 |
| Liverpool FC | 2023-Present | 41 | 2 |
Country Appearances and Statistics: South Korea
- Caps (including friendlies): 125
- Goals: 41
| Competition | Caps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| FIFA World Cup Finals | 10 | 3 |
| AFC Asian Cup | 11 | 3 |
| World Cup Qualifiers | 29 | 12 |
| Olympic Games (overage) | 6 | 0 |
| Friendlies | 66 | 22 |
| Total Competitive Matches (excluding friendlies) | 59 | 19 |
Fun Trivia
- Son has been a brand ambassador for British luxury fashion house Burberry since 2022.
- He has two officially licensed NFT collections that were released in collaboration with NFTStar (sports fandom social platform with a web3 community).
- Son has dated K-pop singers Bang Min-ah and Yoo So-young
- He is a fan of the video game League of Legends.
- Son opened his Son Football Academy in his hometown Chuncheon with his father and brother at a cost of £11 million.
SON HEUNG-MIN’S LEGACY: A TRAILBLAZER
Son isn’t just the greatest Asian player in Premier League history – he’s a trailblazer for Asian athletes worldwide.
Because of this, he opened doors in Europe, broke stereotypes, and inspired a generation to dream bigger.
Whether it was winning the Puskas Award in 2020 for his lone goal against Burnley, or becoming the first Asian to reach 100 Premier League goals, Son redefined what was possible for players outside the traditional football powerhouses.
As he transitions from the Premier League to MLS, Son Heung-min’s pioneering spirit continues. He now becomes a bridge between continents once more – this time between Asia, Europe, and North America.
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