min's Tottenham legacy analysed as Spurs captain announces exit from Europa League winners

Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has confirmed that he will be leaving the Lilywhites this summer following a decade of stellar service.

The 33-year-old's contract was extended until the end of the 2025-26 season earlier this year, as then-manager Ange Postecoglou was keen to ensure that his skipper had the best possible chance of winning a trophy in North London.

Son's silverware goal was achieved in last season's Europa League, and the South Korea international's future has been the subject of increasing uncertainty ever since, as clubs in MLS and Saudi Arabia are believed to be targeting him for a summer move.

The attacker is currently with the Spurs squad in South Korea ahead of Sunday's friendly with Newcastle United, and he gave an emotional press conference on Saturday, where he confirmed his plans to leave the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in the current window.

"Before we start, I just want to share the information that I have decided to leave this club this summer. Respectfully, this club is helping me to make my decision. I just want to share this before we start," football.london quotes Son as saying.

Son explains Tottenham exit decision ahead of expected Los Angeles FC transfer

"It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. I have spent 10 years at Tottenham. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham.

"I need a new environment for a fresh challenge. I’m grateful the club have respected my decision and wish Spurs well for the next season."

Asked when he made the decision to leave the Lilywhites, the former Bayer Leverkusen man confirmed that he had set his sights on a new chapter some time ago, adding: "It's been a while since I decided to leave the club.

"It was not easy days or weeks for me. I always try to be happy and I'm happiest when I'm playing football, but, it's not easy to leave the club where I spent 10 years light-hearted."

Son refused to reveal where he would go after leaving Tottenham, but the Spurs captain is expected to join MLS outfit Los Angeles FC, who are said to be in advanced talks to sign him once Tottenham return from their pre-season tour of Asia.

Son's Spurs legacy analysed as exit decision confirmed

Any man who captains Spurs to a slice of silverware achieves legendary status in North London, and Son will cross the Atlantic having cemented his legacy at White Hart Lane and the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for decades to come.

The 33-year-old can proudly claim to be the highest non-English scorer in Spurs' history, finding the back of the net 173 times to sit fifth in the club's all-time male scoring charts.

Only Harry Kane (280), Jimmy Greaves (268), Bobby Smith (208) and Martin Chivers (174) registered more competitive goals for Tottenham than Son, who also laid on a terrific 101 assists for his teammates in his 454 appearances, the latter being the seventh-most in the club's history.

Not a single Spurs fan should forget Son's extraordinary solo run and finish against Burnley in December 2019, which earned him that year's Puskas Award, and he also shared the 2021-22 Premier League Golden Boot with Liverpool's Mohamed Salah.