Daily Express

Son Heung-min has ended his 10-year stay at Tottenham after making the "hardest decision ever" to leave for Los Angeles FC in a record Major League Soccer transfer.

It was revealed on Saturday that Son would depart Spurs following 173 goals in 454 appearances and months after he captained the club to Europa League glory.

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After an agreement between Tottenham and LAFC was struck for a deal in excess of £20million, the 33-year-old arrived in Los Angeles on Tuesday and a day later he has finalised his transfer, which is the highest fee paid by an MLS club for a player.

In a post to Spurs fans on Instagram, Son, who has signed an initial two-year deal with LAFC with options for a further two, wrote: "How to find the right words for this? I don't know. I have been thinking for days. It's impossible. But here I go.

"It's time for me to say goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur. My home for the past decade. When I arrived in 2015, I didn't speak English, I didn't know London, but you welcomed me with open arms, believed in me, and stood by me through every high and low.

"I was just a boy from Korea with big dreams who was supposed to have no chance. And now, 10 years later, North London is in my heart forever.

"I've made friends for life here, had the honour of becoming a godfather here, and had the privilege of captaining our special club here. I've poured my heart and soul into this club, which makes this the hardest decision ever.

"I thought if I was ever going to leave, it would have to be on my terms, on the best terms, when our mission had been accomplished together. With pride and honour."

Son joined Spurs in 2015 from Bayer Leverkusen. After a tough debut campaign the South Korea captain went on to become one of the club's best ever players and made himself a Premier League great in the process.

Alongside old partner in crime Harry Kane, Son holds the record for the most goal involvements by a duo in the Premier League, with the pair assisting each other on a record 47 occasions in the competition.

The Chuncheon-born attacker also won the league's Golden Boot award in the 2021-22 season after scoring 23 times and he sits 17th in the list of all-time scorers in the division with 127 goals.

Under former boss Mauricio Pochettino, Son's consistent displays helped turn Tottenham into genuine title contenders but silverware continued to allude them after a second-placed finish in 2017 was followed by a Champions League runner-up spot two years later.

Whilst various members of Pochettino's team left not long after the Argentinian's winter departure in 2019, Son stayed to work under Jose Mourinho and Antonio Conte before he was tasked with leading a new era by Ange Postecoglou.

Postecoglou named Son as his captain in the wake of Kane's high-profile switch to Bayern Munich and Hugo Lloris' departure from the first team and after a roller coaster two seasons under the Australian, they achieved the holy grail together on May 21.

Son was consigned to a place on the bench in Bilbao for the Europa League final against Manchester United following an injury-affected campaign, but was introduced to make his final competitive appearance for Spurs to help them win 1-0 and end a 17-year wait for silverware.

It etched Son's name into the history books as he became only the fourth captain in Spurs' history to lift a European trophy after Danny Blanchflower, Alan Mullery and Steve Perryman.

The popular South Korean will renew acquaintances with Lloris and move to Los Angeles, which boasts one of the largest Korean populations in the world, ahead of next summer's World Cup in the United States.

Jurgen Klopp previously proved how much of a fan he was of Rodrygo during his time at Liverpool. The Real Madrid winger – who is reportedly being touted as Son Heung-min's potential replacement at Tottenham Hotspur – was a highly-rated prospect whilst at Santos.

Determined to make the Brazilian a Red, the former Liverpool boss travelled to South America on an 11-hour flight to personally meet the then-16-year-old, according to forward's agent, Nick Arcuri. It was in 2020 when Arcuri claimed the Merseyside side were the first Premier League side to make an approach for Rodrygo with Klopp going the extra mile to seal the deal.

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Speaking on a live YouTube chat, Arcuri said: "When Rodrygo went to sign his first professional contract with Santos, aged 16, a Liverpool director called me saying that Klopp already knew the player, had seen the material, had already come to see Rodrygo personally.

"He had gone on YouTube, searched ‘talents from Brazil’, Rodrygo had appeared and he was very young. He came to Brazil, and liked him. They contacted me, the Liverpool director wanted him to be his first signing, Rodrygo. I went to England, sat in London, Liverpool have an office in London. I brought the proposal to Modesto [Roma Junior], then president of Santos.

"Modesto didn’t accept. It turned out that Santos didn’t want to sell Rodrygo and instead made the first professional contract. But it was Rodrygo’s first official proposal, he was 16 and it was Liverpool."

A move to Anfield never came to fruition, however, with the Brazilian opting to sign for Madrid in 2019 for a fee of £39million.

While the winger, 24, has enjoyed an immensely successful career in Spain with three La Liga titles, two Champions League trophies and a plethora of other honours to his name, his influence on the pitch last season suffered due to the attacking trio of Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Jude Bellingham.

His decline in action has resulted in speculation linking him away with a move to the likes of Liverpool and Arsenal. However, Spurs have now been entered into the rumour mill with AS reporting that the Europa League champions are targeting his signature as a replacement for Son, who is expected to join LAFC after announcing his intention to leave Spurs on Saturday.

The north London side have already signed a wide player this summer after spending £55m on Mohammed Kudus, but it was only seven months prior that they were looking to sign another player liked by Klopp, after they battled to lure Randal Kolo Muani from Paris Saint-Germain.

Spurs were engaged in discussions to sign the Frenchman on loan in January but he instead opted to choose spending the rest of the season at Juventus, where he netted 10 goals in 22 appearances across all competitions.

It was during his time at Eintracht Frankfurt that Sky Germany reported that the striker rejected the opportunity to join Klopp at Liverpool in what would have been a club-record £88m deal.

He instead remained in the Bundesliga before returning to his homeland in a £76m deal to sign for PSG but has only scored 11 goals in 54 games for the French champions. After returning to form in Italy, the Serie A giants are looking to sign him permanently but could face competition once again from Spurs who'll need to fill the gap left by the South Korean icon.

Arsenal could allow Tottenham to steal a march in the transfer tussle for Crystal Palace winger Eberechi Eze as the Gunners are said to be reluctant to meet the player’s £68million release clause. The 27-year-old is attracting interest from a number of clubs this summer after starring for the Eagles last season.

Eze joined Palace from QPR in 2020 and has gone on to contribute 40 goals and 28 assists in 167 appearances for the south London club. Last season he bagged 14 goals and 11 assists in all competitions and even popped up with the only goal of the game as Palace stunned Manchester City in the FA Cup final at Wembley.

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According to talkSPORT, Arsenal don’t intend to trigger Eze’s release clause, despite the fact they have already held talks with the player.

And that decision could play into the hands of Tottenham as the Lilywhites could decide to stump up the cash Palace are after to put themselves in the driving seat to land the England international.

Spurs have been linked with Eze this summer after appointing Thomas Frank as their new manager in June.

And the Dane may convince Spurs chiefs to splash the cash on Eze, despite the fact the club have already signed winger Mohammed Kudus from West Ham.

Despite their hesitancy when it comes to Eze’s release clause, Arsenal are still keen to prise the player away from Selhurst Park and may attempt to agree a lower transfer fee in exchange for his services.

The Gunners don’t expect personal terms to be a problem and remain confident of signing the talented ace.

Eze, meanwhile, is said to be sold on a transfer to the Emirates Stadium and is excited about the opportunity to play in a No. 10 role if he does link up with the Gunners.

Last week, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta was asked whether the club needed more players this summer after already landing Viktor Gyokeres, Martin Zubimendi, Noni Madueke, Cristhian Mosquera and Christian Norgaard.

And the Spaniard replied: “I said that I was extremely happy with the way that we have approached the window and how aggressive we’ve been.

“There’s still a long period with the window open. So far, we are very happy with what we have achieved. Make sure that at the end of the window, we continue to be super happy.”

Meanwhile, Palace manager Oliver Glasner has told his bosses at Palace to keep hold of Eze after explaining at the end of last month: “As of now, I have 17 outfield players. I hope we don't lose any more.”

Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly setting their sights on a player who nearly joined Liverpool and Manchester United, as they prepare to fill the void left by Son Heung-Min. The iconic Spurs forward shocked fans with his announcement on Saturday that he has decided to depart north London. The South Korean forward revealed his plans during Spurs' pre-season tour of his homeland, leaving a significant hole in Thomas Frank's attacking line-up.

Despite his disappointment at the news, the Danish manager is now swiftly shifting his focus on strengthening his frontline, with Paris Saint-Germain's Randal Kolo Muani rumoured to be his top target. The French international piqued Spurs' interest back in January, but spent the latter half of last season on loan at Juventus. He has also attracted attention from numerous clubs in the past, notably Liverpool and United, while Chelsea have also been linked with the star.

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In January 2023, Sky Germany reported that Kolo Muani chose not to join Jurgen Klopp at Anfield in what was speculated to be an £88 million deal. Instead, the striker opted to remain at Eintracht Frankfurt.

Kolo Muani stated that he felt comfortable at the Bundesliga club. However, after scoring an impressive 26 goals in just 50 matches for Frankfurt, Muani was snapped up by PSG for £76.2m in September of that year.

The 26-year-old could have also secured a move to the Premier League through Old Trafford. According to The Athletic, Kolo Muani and Rasmus Hojlund were Manchester United's primary striking targets in 2023, though the latter's youth, characteristics, and marginally lower fee ultimately swayed the Red Devils' decision.

However, he left United red-faced as they were forced to revive their interest in him back in January after Hojlund struggled for goals. Despite their interest, Muani joined Juventus on loan, instead.

Kolo Muani had made a decent start to his career at PSG after picking them over Liverpool, featuring from the start on 40 occasions while netting nine goals.

However, he found game time limited last season, finding the net twice across 10 Ligue 1 outings, prompting a loan switch to Juventus.

He flourished in Serie A, scoring eight times in 16 games and registering one assist. His form was so impressive that Juventus are in for him again, but face stern competition from Spurs.

No offers have been lodged yet, but both teams are looking to get a deal over the line. If Spurs are the team to finally bring him to the Premier League, the Frenchman will have big shoes to fill in replacing Son.

The iconic South Korean was signed Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and has gone on to score 173 goals in over 450 appearances for Spurs, eventually helping them win the Europa League last season.

Speaking of his decision, Son said: "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.

"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."

Son refused to comment on his next destination. MLS side LAFC appear to be leading the race for his signature while there is also interest in the player from Saudi Arabia.

Tottenham will not stand in Son Heung-min’s way if their captain decides to leave this summer, according to reports. A deal for the forward to end a successful decade in North London and join MLS outfit Los Angeles FC is reportedly advancing.

Son has interest from North America and Saudi Arabia, but would reportedly be more open to a switch to the former. Despite winning the Europa League, the 33-year-old endured a frustrating year at Spurs last term, prompting a sense that he could seek an emotional departure 10 years after his arrival. Only a year remains on Son’s contract after Spurs used their option in January to extend his deal by 12 months. LAFC are reportedly hoping to conclude a move this summer.

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According to Give Me Sport, Spurs will not block a departure if Son decides to leave this summer. However, it is claimed that they would also be open to allowing the South Korea international to leave as a free agent in a year’s time.

Son is not expected to decide his future until after Spurs’ tour of his homeland this summer. Reports have claimed that he has a ‘key player’ clause in his contract, meaning the North Londoners could miss out on significant revenue if he is not part of their squad for matches against Arsenal and Newcastle in South Korea.

LAFC are reportedly close to agreeing personal terms with Son and club officials believe they can conclude a deal with Spurs later in the summer.

The report claims that Son will discuss his future with new Spurs boss Thomas Frank after that trip. He wants to know what role he will play in Frank’s plans, and how many minutes he will earn over the course of the season.

Injuries and a loss of form hindered Son last season. Ange Postecoglou often turned to other starters in the second half of the campaign, and Frank may do similar after the club completed permanent deals for Mathys Tel and Mohammed Kudus. Son played only 23 minutes in Spurs’ Europa League final victory over Manchester United.

Son could now leave Spurs after finally landing a trophy. He accepted the ‘legend’ label after playing a role against United. He told TNT Sport: "Let's say I'm a legend. Why not? Only today! Seventeen years nobody has done it, so with such amazing players yeah today's the day. Probably today I will say I'm a legend of this club.

"I feel amazing. This is what I've always dreamed for and today is the day it happened. Dream came really, really true. I'm so so happy. I am the happiest man in the world."

Tottenham have reportedly received an offer for star forward Son Heung-min and are preparing to rival Arsenal for Joao Palhinha. Spurs’ summer plans are set to intensify after they completed a blockbuster £55million move for Mohammed Kudus from West Ham.

MLS club Los Angeles FC are said to have submitted a bid for Spurs captain Son. However, a move is complicated by the financial rewards of the North Londoners' pre-season trip to South Korea. The 33-year-old reportedly has a 'key player clause', meaning Spurs could lose up an eye-watering 75 per cent of their income from the tour if Son is not part of their squad. A 134-cap South Korea international, the winger is a huge draw for fans in his homeland, where Spurs often spend their pre-season campaigns.

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According to the Telegraph, that clause is likely to delay any resolution of Son's future until Spurs return from Asia in the first week of August. A difficult 2024-25 campaign left doubts over how long he might remain at a club where he is about to enter a 10th year.

Son's minutes in the second half of the campaign were partially limited by a foot injury. However, he was not always considered a starter by Ange Postecoglou and he played only 23 minutes of Spurs' Europa League final victory over Manchester United. Spurs decided to take up their option of a one-year contract extension, but Son will be free to leave next summer.

Meanwhile, the same report claims that Spurs are rivalling Arsenal in a deal to sign former Fulham midfielder Palhinha from Bayern Munich. The Portugal international has been linked with an exit from the Bavarian club just a year after completing a £42m switch.

Palhinha made only 17 Bundesliga appearances last season and has been linked with an immediate return to the Premier League. Arsenal are widely understood to be keen on a potential move even after signing defensive midfielders Martin Zubimendi and Christian Norgaard.

Spurs are reportedly actively 'working on' a move for the 30-year-old. Should he join Thomas Frank's side, he would become the first outfield player aged 30 or over to join Spurs since Fernando Llorente in 2017.

His potential transfer would mark a shift from a policy of signing much younger players and could hint at an acceptance that the squad inherited by Frank is in dire need of experience and know-how. Spurs signed five teenagers last season, with Lucas Bergvall and Archie Gray impressing in the Premier League and Europa League.

Spurs have already been very busy this summer. Loan deals for Mathys Tel and Kevin Danso have been made permanent, while Kudus was signed from West Ham to bolster the club's attacking options.

Manchester United are reportedly looking at bringing in Joao Palhinha on loan for the 2025/26 season. The Red Devils have spent most of the summer transfer window chasing attacking reinforcements, but it’s suggested that Ruben Amorim is keen to bolster his midfield options.

Palhinha knows Amorim well from the pair’s time together at Sporting CP and Braga, with the midfield anchor having left for Fulham in 2022. His impressive ball-winning performances in west London attracted interest from top clubs across Europe, with Bayern Munich eventually taking a £46.5million punt on him last summer.

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It doesn’t appear to have paid off though, with Palhinha making just 25 appearances across all competitions last term, including only six starts in the Bundesliga. While Palhinha did secure a title-winning medal last term, it’s being mooted that the Portuguese ace could be eyeing up a Premier League return.

It’s claimed by GIVEMESPORT that United are interested in signing the 30-year-old this summer, but could face complications because of Bayern’s demands. The Bavarian outfit are said to be against the idea of a temporary switch for Palhinha, given it’s less than a month until the new Bundesliga season gets underway.

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Throughout the 2022/23 and 2023/24 seasons, Palhinha led the way in terms of players with the most tackles - something United would no doubt benefit from. It would free talisman Bruno Fernandes up to concentrate on his attacking endeavours in the final third, while adding a sturdiness to United’s at-times weak midfield.

Premier League interest isn’t only coming from United, but also Tottenham Hotspur, who are also rumored to be keen on the ex-Fulham star. Instead, the report suggests any move for Palhinha will have to involve a permanent transfer offer instead - something which could cost millions of pounds.

Palhinha opened up about his future at the recent Club World Cup, stating: “Obviously, it hasn’t been an easy year for me, but I’m also very motivated to – as soon as the season starts – prove my worth once again, at a very special club like Bayern, a huge club. I have a contract with Bayern for another three years, so I’ll report back on the 29 [July], which is when we start pre-season. Enjoying these vacation days with family and friends is the most important thing right now.”

United and Spurs have just over three weeks until the new Premier League campaign gets underway. They’ll be able to conduct business until September 1.

Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur are reportedly interested in Joao Palhinha.

The ex-Fulham ace lead the way for tackles in the Premier League between 2022 and 2024, before joining Bayern Munich in a big-money move last summer.

It's claimed by GIVEMESPORT that United and Spurs would be keen on a loan move.

However, Bayern Munich aren't said to be open to a short-term deal and would instead prefer a cash offer.

Liverpool will reportedly only consider a signing for Rodrygo this summer, if they can be certain about Luis Diaz's exit.

The attacker has been linked with a move to Bayern Munich, who tried their arm with a £58million bid earlier this summer.

Sky Germany have reported Liverpool would consider a move, should Diaz depart this summer.

Evan Ferguson has completed a season-long loan move to Roma.

The Brighton striker spent the second half of last season on loan at West Ham United.

Reacting to the move, head coach Fabian Hürzeler said, “Evan had a challenging period across the past season and a half, and it has been one disrupted by niggling injury issues, which hasn’t allowed him a run of games.

“He is over those injuries and has come back in great shape. Now he really wants to play regularly. This is an exciting opportunity in a strong league and with the prospect of European football.

“We wish Evan well for the season ahead and will be watching his progress closely throughout the season.”

Chelsea are reportedly 'close to a verbal agreement' with Xavi Simons.

The RB Leipzig gem is rumoured to be on the move this summer, with Chelsea showing a keen interest.

As per Sky Germany, the Blues are closing in on a verbal agreement regarding personal terms.

It's mooted that Carney Chukwuemeka, currently on the books at Chelsea, could head in the opposite direction.

Manchester United have reportedly settled on a three-man striker shortlist.

The Red Devils have been forced to sit by and watch targets such as Victor Osimhen, Viktor Gyokeres and Hugo Ekitike close in on moves elsewhere.

Meanwhile, Ruben Amorim's goal of signing a striker this summer remains up in the air.

That being said, it's claimed United have whittled their search down to three players: Benjamin Sesko, Nicolas Jackson and Ollie Watkins.

Will any of them move the needle for the team that finished 15th last season?

Welcome to another day in transfer paradise!

There isn't long until the new Premier League season gets underway, but there's still plenty of business to be completed between now and then.

Manchester United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal and many more are expected to make additions before the start of the season.

So stick aroun as Express Sport covers all of the latest transfer news and updates.

It had looked as if Morgan Gibbs-White was destined for a move to Tottenham Hotspur, with rumours that a medical had been planned ahead of completing his transfer from Nottingham Forest. However, that deal was quickly shelved after Forest accused Spurs of making an “illegal approach” to sign the midfielder.

Spurs reportedly made a £60million bid to sign Gibbs-White, which was said to have matched a release clause in his contract. But Forest, unhappy with the way their Premier League rivals went about things, lodged a complaint, leaving Gibbs-White’s future hanging in the balance.

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Gibbs-White was involved in Forest’s goalless draw against Ligue 1 side Monaco over the weekend, as speculation about where he will play his football next season continues to grow. But Gibbs-White hasn’t travelled alongside his team-mates for their pre-season training camp in Portugal, with the reason having since become clear.

It’s reported by The Telegraph that Gibbs-White isn’t involved in Forest’s initial squad because of a ‘personal matter’ unrelated to football. Instead, it’s suggested that the current plan is for Gibbs-White to join up with the rest of the Forest players later this week.

Gibbs-White was crucial to Forest last season, as they finished seventh in the Premier League and secured European football. It was initially meant to render qualification for the Conference League, but due to Crystal Palace’s multi-club ownership issue, the East Midlands outfit look likely to be bumped up to the Europa League.

Despite the unexpected boost, Gibbs-White is still being tipped to leave the club this summer. It’s suggested that earlier this year Forest had attempted to tie him down on a long-term contract, with Gibbs-White resisting the temptation.

The Daily Mail report that a second deal in the region of £65million is being considered by Spurs, as they look to secure the services of the England international this summer. Elsewhere, Forest might’ve already found their ideal replacement, with Manchester City’s James McAtee having been mooted.

Pep Guardiola deems the England youth ace surplus to requirements, with City hoping to bank a fee in the region of £35m for McAtee. Forest could face Premier League competition in the form of West Ham United, meanwhile, a move to the Bundesliga has also emerged as a possibility for McAtee.

The attacking midfielder is claimed to have travelled to Germany recently, meeting the likes of Eintracht Frankfurt and Borussia Dortmund and was impressed by what he saw. Clubs in the Premier League have until September 1 to conclude any business.

Police are investigating alleged clashes in the crowd during Thomas Frank's debut as Tottenham head coach. Frank's new side won 2-0 over Reading on Saturday afternoon to give the Dane a fantastic start to life in north London.

Goals from Will Lankshear and new defender Luka Vuskovic, 18, alongside an impressive debut from £55million West Ham United acquisition Mohammed Kudus, ensured Spurs and Frank claimed a triumph against the League One outfit. But during the closing stages of the pre-season fixture at the Select Car Leasing Stadium, some unsavoury incidents are said to have unfolded in the stands. Disorder was allegedly sparked amongst spectators in the final moments of the encounter at the summit of the south east corner of the venue where the Spurs and Reading supporters were positioned nearest to each other.

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Stadium officials within that section were forced to step in, establishing a substantial buffer zone between the rival factions. Missiles appeared to be hurled, with some striking Reading staff caught in between.

Thames Valley Police are now investigating to find those responsible.

A spokesperson for the force told football.london: "We are aware of a public order incident at yesterday's match between Reading and Tottenham at the Select Car Leasing Stadium. Officers are investigating and we are working with the club to identify the individuals involved.

"Anyone with information is asked to contact the force on 101 or by making a report online, quoting investigation reference number 43250365707."

A version of this article first appeared on football.london