The 33-year-old South Korean star, who has been in advanced talks with Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC, is likely to join the club for around £20 million. Sunday’s pre-season friendly against Newcastle, which ended in a 1-1 draw, served as a fitting farewell in front of his home fans.
Son was substituted in the 65th minute and received a guard of honour from both sets of players—an emotional moment that saw him hand over the captain’s armband to Ben Davies before making his way to the bench, visibly overwhelmed. His teammates, coaching staff, and even the Newcastle players gathered to applaud him off the field.
"I didn’t expect to cry," Son admitted afterward. "But when I heard my teammates speak, leaving a club I’ve spent 10 years with became incredibly hard. Still, I felt happy this was a special day thanks to the fans, my teammates, and even my opponents."
Tottenham manager Thomas Frank, who confirmed that a move was “very close,” called the moment both “beautiful and brutal,” noting the contrast between Son’s farewell and the injury scare to midfielder James Maddison, who was stretchered off just minutes after coming on.
Newcastle boss Eddie Howe also paid tribute: “The reaction from our players was instinctive that says everything about who Son is. Not just a top talent, but a class professional. One of the Premier League’s greats.”
Son’s legacy at Spurs is enormous. Since arriving in 2015 for a then-record fee for an Asian player, he’s scored 173 goals and made 101 assists in 454 appearances. He captained the club to Europa League glory in May, breaking a 17-year trophy drought, and has been named Spurs’ Player of the Year three times.
Even in his final season, as Spurs struggled and narrowly avoided relegation, Son remained vital. With him in the starting XI, Tottenham averaged more than double the points and goals per game compared to matches he missed. His playmaking also peaked, with his best-ever assists and big chance creation stats.
Though he didn’t hit double-digit league goals last season for the first time since his debut campaign, his overall impact remained undeniable.
As Son prepares for a likely move to LAFC, fans and pundits alike are reflecting not just on what he brought to Tottenham, but what his absence will mean going forward. Brennan Johnson, who opened the scoring with a goal and a tribute celebration mimicking Son’s signature camera pose, may be among those looked to fill the void—alongside big-money summer signing Mohamed Kudus.
But for now, the focus is on Son’s goodbye a heartfelt sendoff for a player who’s not only one of Asia’s greatest exports, but a Spurs legend through and through.
