Son Heung-min has chosen to leave Tottenham and join LAFC but concedes heading to the MLS in a record switch was not his first choice move, but he was convinced to move
Former Tottenham captain Son Heung-min has confessed that LAFC were "not my first choice" as the South Korean called time on his decade in North London. Son wasn't short of offers this summer but has opted to move to MLS with LAFC spending just shy of £20million - a record fee for an American club.
The 33-year-old captained Tottenham to their Europa League triumph back in May before deciding that both he and Spurs should embark on new eras this summer. Initially he wasn't sold on a move to the United States, but a chat with LAFC's general manager helped turn his head.
The South Korean said: "They've been absolutely working so hard to get me here to join LAFC. If I'm honest, it was not my first choice but John [Thorrington, LAFC general manager] was the first call when the season finished and John changed my mind. He changed my heart.
"I'm so happy to see all the Korean fans, I was at the game and I saw you supporting like crazy and I wanted to run on the pitch and show my performance."
And Son has Son has underlined his desire to deliver in California, with the Los Angeles outfit also boasting his former Tottenham team-mate Hugo Lloris among their foreign imports.
"I'm here to win and I will perform. I will definitely show you something exciting in… are we calling it football or soccer? I will definitely show you some exciting football, and we will have success."
Son scored 173 goals with Tottenham, helping them reach the Champions League back in 2019. He also remains the only Asian player to win the Premier League Golden Boot and LAFC hailed his arrival. Their co-president and general manager said: "Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football.
"His ambition, ability, and character align perfectly with our values at LAFC. We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career. Sonny is a proven winner and a world-class individual, and we are confident he will elevate our club and inspire our community - both on and off the pitch."
Son cut an emotional figure on his final Tottenham appearance recently. He walked off to a guard of honour before crying on the bench, but insists it was the right time to go.
"I felt like I gave it all, but I felt like I needed a new challenge and I chose LAFC. I'm old, but I still have good physicality and I still have good quality," he said.