Son Heung-Min’s short term future at Tottenham Hotspur has already been one of the undercurrents to this summer’s transfer window. After leading Spurs to Europa League glory and the club’s first trophy in 17 years, there have been numerous reports that Sonny is open to leaving Spurs for a new chapter here at the close of his footballing career.
But maybe not? In an “exclusive” report, Football-Asia writes that Son is unlikely to leave Tottenham this summer amidst reported interest from both Saudi Arabia and MLS.
The report states that Son, who is scheduled to return to Tottenham for preseason training at the end of this week, had a cordial video meeting with an unnamed MLS team (likely LAFC), but that a move to California wouldn’t happen before summer 2026. Previous reports suggested Sonny would be open to Los Angeles due to a (mildly) shorter flight to Korea for international duties, and the presence of a thriving Korean community in the City of Angels.
As far as the interest from Saudi Arabia, Son is said to not be entirely swayed by the prospects of massive wages in the Middle East. The report says he hasn’t outright rejected the idea, but he’s also not convinced that it would be the best step in his career. Daniel Levy and Tottenham club leadership are leaving Son’s future in his own hands and will work to bring about the outcome he eventually decides is best.
Either way, the report says that Sonny has no intention of leaving Spurs this summer, and is also open to the idea of an extended deal that would keep him at the club for longer. He intends to accompany Spurs, along with Yang Min-Hyeok and new Japanese defender Kota Takai, on Spurs’ preseason tour to Asia later this summer.
There’s the suggestion that Son will have his minutes managed next season, with the recognition that he can no longer play every minute in every match. If he stays, Thomas Frank would likely prioritize Sonny playing in the Champions League.
This is an interesting report. I’m not intimately familiar with the source publication and how reliable it is, but everything that’s in it at least feels like a plausible outcome. The gist seems to be that Son is keeping all options on the table and not closing any doors, but his first preference would be to stick around another year for Champions League football, see how his body holds up, and make a decision on his future down the road. That seems reasonable. Son may be in the final year of his contract, but if he shows he still has what it takes to compete at the highest level, I can see an outcome where he retires a Hotspur. Or if not, a comfy step down to a league like MLS where he will be just as big a local star as he is in England.
It’s certainly a pretty picture.