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Son Heung-Min announces decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur: Need a new environment

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Son Heung-Min announces decision to leave Tottenham Hotspur: Need a new environment - India Today
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Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-Min has announced that he will be leaving the club this summer. Son has been synonymous with Spurs since arriving at the club in 2015 and went on to win the Europa League with them last season. The Korean star has been linked with a move to the MLS as Los Angeles FC has been touted as a potential destination.

Speaking at the press conference ahead of Spurs' clash against Newcastle United in Korea, Son confirmed the decision and said that the club is helping him move on. The 33-year-old said it was the most difficult decision he has made in his career. He further stated that the reason behind his decision was that he felt he had achieved everything he could with the London club and needed a new environment for a fresh challenge.

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"I just want to share information that I have decided to leave this club this summer," Son said. "Respectfully, the club is helping me with this decision."

"It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. The main reason is I have achieved everything I can at Tottenham. I need a new environment for a fresh challenge."

I came to North London as a kid. A boy came to London who couldn’t speak English. I leave this club as a man. Thanks to all the Spurs fans who have given me so much love.”

The match against Newcastle on Sunday, August 3 could end up being Son's final match for the club.

Son also said that he had informed his teammates of the decision and they respect the choice he has made.

"I spoke with only a few guys, ones I've spent a long time with. They're disappointed but in a respectful way. Obviously I'm very close to Ben and we've spoken a few times about the future. Obviously they respect my decision. It's very hard to tell my team-mates because I probably spend more time with them than my family because we're together five or six hours every day. They were disappointed but also happy for me," said Son.

During his time with Spurs, Son scored 160 goals for the club and is their fifth-highest goalscorer in history. He also won the 2021-22 Premier League golden boot for being the top scorer that season.

- Ends

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Football diplomacy: UK minister gifts S Jaishankar a Tottenham Hotspur Jersey

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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar received a special gift from UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy during his official visit to the United Kingdom - Tottenham Hotspur's No. 1 jersey with his name printed on it. Lammy, who represents north London's Tottenham in Parliament, presented the jersey as he hosted Jaishankar at Chevening House, a historic venue for diplomatic engagements.

Welcoming Jaishankar as his first official guest at Chevening, Lammy emphasised the significance of 2025 in taking UK-India relations to new heights.

"It is a great privilege to have you here as my first guest. 2025 is going to be a special year for moving the UK-India relationship into a new era," Lammy said in a video shared on Instagram, capturing moments from Jaishankar's visit.

The two leaders held wide-ranging discussions covering key aspects of bilateral ties, including strategic coordination, political cooperation, trade negotiations, education, technology, and mobility. Jaishankar described the talks as comprehensive and forward-looking, reinforcing the shared commitment to deepening the partnership.

Lammy later shared a message on social media highlighting the significance of the discussions. "Thank you Dr S Jaishankar for being my first official guest at Chevening. We're building a new era in relations, from FTA negotiations last week to discussions on growth, security, and foreign policy today. Our partnership makes our people safer and more prosperous," he wrote.

Jaishankar's visit to the UK, part of his official tour from March 4 to 9, aims to provide renewed momentum to India's engagement with both the UK and Ireland.

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Tottenham Hotspur trigger one-year extension for captain Son Heung-Min

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Tottenham Hotspur captain Son Heung-min has committed his future to the club until 2026 after the Premier League side exercised a one-year contract extension on Tuesday. The 32-year-old forward, who joined Spurs in 2015, has been a pivotal figure for the team, amassing 169 goals and 90 assists in 431 appearances.

His previous contract was set to expire at the conclusion of this season, but the extension ensures his stay in North London for an additional year. Son is among the Premier League's all-time top 20 scorers and holds the record as the competition's most successful Asian player in terms of goals.

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Spurs put out a statement on their official website confirming the extension of Son's contract.

"We are delighted to announce that we have exercised the option to extend Heung-Min Son’s contract, which will now run until the summer of 2026."

"Having joined the Club in August, 2015, Sonny, 32, has become a global star during his time with us and a modern-day great for Tottenham Hotspur," read the statement.

On the international stage, the South Korean skipper has made 131 appearances for his national team and represented his country at three World Cups: in 2014, 2018, and 2022. This season, Son has continued to be a vital part in the Spurs lineup.

The South Korean forward has scored 5 goals and has 6 assists this season so far. Despite the brilliance from Son, Tottenham find themselves 12th in the points table, having lost their latest match against Newcastle United at home.

Tottenham are set to face Liverpool in the first leg of the League Cup semi-finals on Wednesday.

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Ange Postecoglou slams Tottenham's 2nd half collapse vs Brighton: Worst defeat

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Tottenham Hotspur boss Ange Postecoglou slammed his team's performance against Brighton and Hove Albion and called it the 'worst defeat' since he took over as manager. Spurs suffered a shocking second-half collapse to lose 3-2 to Brighton in the Premier League, a result that left manager Postecoglou stunned. Spurs had been in complete control during the first half, with goals from Brennan Johnson and James Maddison putting them 2-0 up and seemingly on track for a sixth consecutive victory across all competitions.

However, Tottenham fell apart after the break, allowing Brighton to stage a remarkable comeback. Yankuba Minteh sparked the turnaround with a goal early in the second half, followed by strikes from Georginio Rutter and Danny Welbeck, which completed the stunning comeback and left Spurs with nothing to show for their early dominance.

In his post-match interview with Sky Sports, Postecoglou expressed his disbelief at the team's second-half performance, accusing his players of becoming complacent after building a comfortable lead.

"Disappointing. Frustrated and absolutely gutted with that. Worst defeat since I've been here," the Australian said.

"Unacceptable second half. Nowhere near where we should be. We got carried away with how we were going. We kind of accepted our fate and it is hard to understand as we've not done that while I've been here. We paid the price."

"The problem is we are travelling along too smoothly, football and life will trip you up if you get too far ahead of yourself. It is a terrible loss for us -- as bad as it gets."

A win would have propelled Tottenham to the edge of the top four, but the defeat leaves them ninth in the table, with 10 points from seven matches heading into the international break. Brighton, meanwhile, climbed to sixth, two points ahead of Spurs.

Postecoglou said that the players would process the result individually during the break and he would look into once the players return.

"They all go on international duty, the majority of them. They will process it individually and I will process it when everyone gets back," Postecoglou said.

Spurs will take on London rivals West Ham United on October 19 once the league restarts after the international break.

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Tottenham Hotspur confirm Yves Bissouma suspension over laughing gas video

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Tottenham Hotspur manager Ange Postecoglou has confirmed that Yves Bissouma will be suspended for Monday's Premier League opener against Leicester City after the midfielder shared footage on social media of himself ingesting laughing gas. The Mali international apologised after Snapchat videos surfaced showing him using the class C drug, widely known as nitrous oxide, and Spurs issued a statement saying it will be "dealt with as an internal matter."

During a Thursday press conference, Postecoglou suggested Bissouma had failed in his job as a role model and needed to re-establish trust in his teammates while he sits out the club's opening game of the season. "We've suspended Bissouma from Monday's game. He needs to build that trust back with both me and the group. The door is open for him but behaviour is crucial," Tottenham's manager Ange Postecoglou told the reporters on Thursday.

Bissouma posted a social media video on August 10 in which he was seen inhaling from a balloon containing the Class C drug known as laughing gas, for which he later apologised. "I want to apologise for these videos. This was a severe lack of judgement," Bissouma said in a statement on Monday, "I understand how serious this is and the health risks involved, and I also take my responsibility as a footballer and role model very seriously."

As part of the government's anti-social behaviour action plan, possessing nitrous oxide for recreational purposes has been a criminal crime in the UK from 2023 and can result in a prison sentence. "(I have) been in the game for a long time, when a situation like this arises, I've tried to look at them in a couple of ways. First there's a person and it's Biss and he's made a poor decision," Postecolglou added.

"There are still sanctions involved, and some of those are educational. He is a footballer with responsibilities."

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