LOS ANGELES: South Korean forward Son Heung-min has joined Los Angeles FC in a record-breaking Major League Soc­cer transfer, ending a decade-long stint at Tott­enham Hotspur, both clubs announced on Wednesday.

Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed by either club but the Athletic reported LAFC paid a fee in the region of $26.5 million for the 33-year-old.

“I’m here to win, and I will perform,” Son said at an introductory press conference at BMO Stadium that was packed with US and South Korean media, fans and luminaries, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

He was already itching to get to work with his new team-mates, after watching them beat Mexican club Tigres UANL 2-1 in a Leagues Cup match on Tue­sday night amid rabid sup­port from fans energized by rumors of his signing.

“It was just, like, ins­a­ne,” he said. “I just wan­ted to run onto the pitch and show my performance.”

Son, who joined Totte­nham from Bayer Leverk­usen in 2015, led the north London club to their first trophy in 17 years with a 1-0 win over Manchester United in the Europa League final in May.

The former Spurs captain made 454 appearances for the team and scored 173 goals, winning the Premier League Gol­den Boot in the 2021-22 season.

Son, capped 134 times by South Korea, joins LAFC after an emotional farewell to Spurs during a friendly against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium.

“Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dyna­mic and accomplished players in world football,” said LAFC co-president and general manager John Thorrington.

Son said it was Thorr­ington who sold him on LAFC. “If I’m honest, it was not my first choice,” he said. “But first call, when I talked to John after the season finished, he just changed my mind. He cha­n­ged my heart. He showed me the destination where I should be.”

Published in Dawn, August 8th, 2025