Tottenham Hotspur

Heung-Min Son will return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the first time since leaving the Club to bid farewell to our home fans at our UEFA Champions League fixture with SK Slavia Praha on Tuesday 9 December.

Our legendary former captain, who led the side to Europa League glory in Bilbao in May, announced his departure in August during our summer tour in his home nation of South Korea, playing his final game in a Spurs shirt in front of a sold-out Seoul World Cup stadium in front of his adoring Korean following.

Having then made the move straight to Los Angeles FC in the MLS – where he scored an impressive nine goals in 10 games before exiting the competition at the Play-Off stage in defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps on 23 November – Sonny has chosen the Slavia fixture as his opportunity to return to London and say his goodbyes to the Spurs faithful.

Sonny will take to the pitch before the team walk-outs ahead of the 20:00 kick-off against the Czech champions. He will then have the opportunity to personally address the supporters that took him into their hearts following his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and treasured him for the next 10 years – it is sure to be an emotional occasion in N17.

Further details and timings will be communicated to ticket holders ahead of the match.

Working with our Fan Advisory Board, work has now commenced on a street mural on Tottenham High Road, to be completed by December 9, further celebrating the legacy that Sonny has left in this part of North London.

The design of the mural has been chosen by Sonny himself and is being created by Murwalls – the team behind the iconic artworks of fellow Spurs legends Ledley King and Harry Kane that also adorn the thoroughfare to the stadium.

Sonny said: “When I announced my difficult decision to leave Spurs in the summer, it was in Korea and I never got a proper chance to say goodbye to fans at the stadium.

"Now I am so happy because I am going to come back to London on 9th December, for the Champions League match, and be able to tell the Spurs fans in person just how much their support and love over 10 years has meant to me and my family. It will be emotional, but it's important for me and the Club that this happens.”

Watch | That magic moment in Bilbao...

Sonny won the FIFA Puskas Award in 2020 for an extraordinary solo goal against Burnley, which saw him dribble the length of the pitch before finding the net. Both a scorer of great goals and a great goalscorer, he added to his personal accolades in 2021/22, receiving the Premier League Golden Boot for his 23-goal return in the division.

During his time at the Club, Sonny also became the highest-scoring Asian player in Premier League history and, in addition to leading South Korea to Asian Games success in 2018, has been named ‘Best Footballer in Asia’ a record nine times.

Sonny’s greatest achievement in our colours came in May, 2025, as he led the Club to UEFA Europa League glory in Bilbao. By doing so, he wrote his name into Spurs folklore, becoming one of 13 captains in our history to lift a major trophy.

Cuti Romero produced a ‘wow’ moment for Thomas Frank, who spoke about his captain’s ‘textbook striker’s goal’, Guglielmo Vicario’s character and the support of our travelling fans after our resilient 2-2 draw against Newcastle United at St. James’ Park on Tuesday night.

The team displayed all the traits Thomas was looking for after a tough week – defeats against PSG, Arsenal and Fulham – and then had to dig deep, twice, to secure a point against a side that had racked up six wins on the trot in the Toon.

Bruno Guimaraes broke the deadlock on 71 minutes, but Cuti responded with a brilliant diving header from Mo Kudus’ cross to level seven minutes later. Anthony Gordon fired Newcastle back in front from the spot after a VAR penalty call with four minutes left but we picked ourselves up again and, in the fifth of nine minutes of added time, Cuti produced his moment, an overhead kick after Aaron Ramsdale punched Mathys Tel’s corner skywards.

“Cuti today, wow, what a performance overall – aggressive defensively, good on the ball, and of course, tops it off with two goals,” said Thomas. “The first, the header, exceptional, that's a striker’s goal, a textbook striker’s goal, and the bicycle kick, wow, perfect and perfect contact with the shin as well, bottom corner, so well done to Cuti.”

At the other end, Vic was assured all night and produced big saves when they mattered to deny Gordon, Lewis Miley and most notably, a superb reaction save down to his left to turn away Tino Livramento’s piledriver through a crowd of players following a corner.

Thomas added: “I must say, normally you really can judge a character by how the person is dealing with a setback, because that shows resilience, and that shows that you've got some inner core that is very strong and can come back, so I think he was very good today.

“I must also say, others that were very good today were our fans, wow, travelling with more than 3,000 on a Tuesday night, long travel, and you could hear them through the game, and it's difficult, by the way, to be an away fan here and be heard because they're loud, so the way we could hear them, the support, and I heard them singing to Vic, that made me extremely proud and happy, and I think that's the togetherness we need from everyone.”

Thomas Frank spoke to the media at St. James Park on Tuesday evening after our 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in the Premier League.

Here's what he had to say...

Did you expect Cristian Romero to be your striker tonight with two goals?

Thomas: "The perfect bicycle kick, hit with the shin, aiming for that bottom corner. I think let's start praising Cuti. I think he deserved that for an overall top performance, defending, on the ball, coolness, calmness, duels and then getting up there and scoring two goals. I think the bicycle kick will most likely get a little bit more praise, but I think the header is more exceptional, the way he does that is better than many strikers. That said, I really liked the character and the mentality in the team, what they showed after three tough games. To go here, the fourth game in 10 days, the third away game, very difficult place, go down two times and come back, it shows everything about the willingness and the mentality in the team. Also, the second one is very disappointing to concede because for me it's never a penalty. Even speaking to someone from Newcastle, who didn't think it's a penalty. We need the consistency because that penalty would be given two times a game. I think the referee's call on the pitch nailed it and VAR can only be if it's clear and obvious. I want to speak about us, and the mentality coming back. A great point away from home, I'm happy with that. I think our fans, exceptional, travelling, 3,000 up here, the way they supported us throughout the game, singing, we also heard them singing and praising Vic throughout the game. That's togetherness."

How much does that mean to you, to hear them sing as well?

Thomas: "You could hear them here and it's a difficult place to come as away fans and be loud enough so we can hear them. They put so much effort into it, matched the effort from the team and that togetherness drove us forward and it gave us a more than well-deserved point."

Does it make such a difference to have that kind of individual leadership from Romero?

Thomas: "Yeah, of course. I think we can set everything nice tactically up and good principles and all that and try to do it, and that's the foundation and hopefully we can make a great team - but you know sometimes it's decisive actions from key players and Cuti definitely did that today."

How important was it for the team to show that spirit?

Thomas: "I think it's hugely important. I think the PSG performance was good. I think the team gave everything against Fulham. It was just a nightmare game in some ways because you're down 2-0 after six minutes, and then keep going and also get something out of it, but that's the only way forward, we know that. If you're on a tough run, there's only one way, and that is to work hard and keep going and the team did that very well today."

Destiny Udogie seemed to be limping - is he okay?

Thomas: "Yeah, I'm pretty sure. I haven't heard anything."

Thomas Frank praised the mentality and character of the team after we came from behind twice to secure a 2-2 draw against Newcastle United in the Premier League at St. James’ Park on Tuesday night.

Bruno Guimaraes fired the home side in front on 71 minutes only for skipper Cuti Romero to level seven minutes later with a diving header from Mo Kudus’ cross. We were then on the wrong side of a VAR review after Rodrigo Bentancur and Dan Burn tussled in the box from a corner – referee Tom Bramall awarding a penalty, slotted away by Anthony Gordon for 2-1 on 86 minutes.

Speaking to us after the drama at St. James’, Thomas reflected: “The mentality in the group and the character in the team, incredible today after a tough week, results not going our way, the fourth game in 10 days, third away game, going up against Newcastle, St. James' Park, difficult place to go to, suffered the first 25 minutes, which you need to be able to do here because it's a difficult place to go, then last 60 - I really liked that performance.

“I think we were brave, composed on the ball, I think we were a threat. Then, dealing with two setbacks, every good team needs to deal with setbacks and come back from that, and come back twice, I think it's exceptionally good because it's easy... not again... away from home, but that's just so much praise to the players, I think that was really promising.

“You really sense a little bit, I don't know, happiness? You always want to win, but end on a high, getting a good point on a tough day, with the last 60 minutes, many promising things, showing great courage and character, I think that's very promising.”

Returning Cristian Romero produced a two-goal captain’s performance including a stoppage time overhead kick to earn us a dramatic point at St James’ Park on Tuesday evening.

Back in the side after serving a one-game suspension on Saturday, the skipper twice cancelled out Newcastle goals as the game exploded into life in the final 20 minutes.

The Magpies’ own captain, Bruno Guimaraes, came off the bench to open the scoring with a fine strike before Romero’s diving header drew us level. Then, after a controversial penalty was converted by Anthony Gordon with four minutes left, our Argentine international scored a spectacular equaliser five minutes into injury time to salvage a 2-2 draw.

Thomas Frank made four changes to the team that started against Fulham on Saturday, with Romero, Brennan Johnson, Pape Matar Sarr and Rodrigo Bentancur coming in for Micky van de Ven, Archie Gray, Joao Palhinha and Richarlison.

As they often are on home soil, Newcastle were quickly out of the blocks and had a couple of half-chances in the opening five minutes, Lewis Hall dragging a shot wide and Nick Woltemade heading well over from a Jacob Murphy cross. The Magpies were bossing possession in the early stages as we struggled to get a foothold in the game and Guglielmo Vicario was called into action for the first time after 17 minutes but he comfortably saved Lewis Miley’s shot from the edge of the area.

They went close again 10 minutes before the break as Joelinton got away down the inside right channel and hit a crisp shot from a narrow angle across Vicario which smacked against the far post. We then went up the other end and carved out our first chance, Mohammed Kudus skipping past Hall and his cross was back-flicked over the bar by Lucas Bergvall. That was a moment that seemed to lift our spirits and we finished the half in positive fashion, much more on the front foot and, although we didn’t test Aaron Ramsdale in the Newcastle goal, it gave us something to build on for the second period.

It was our hosts with the first opening after the break though, Vicario saving well with his legs from Harvey Barnes’ angled drive and, as the ball looped up, Woltemade sent a header goalwards which Kevin Danso cleared off the line with a header of his own. Some determined defending from a couple of corners then kept Newcastle out before another set piece came into the danger zone in the 66th minute which Vicario got a good punch on, the ball falling to Tino Livramento 20 yards out and his clean strike was blocked inside the six-yard box by Johnson.

The pressure was building and eventually told when the home side opened the scoring in the 71st minute. Two substitutes did the damage, Gordon bursting down the left flank before sending over a cross which was cleared away but only as far as Guimaraes and he curled right-footed into the far corner. Shortly after, Vicario got down smartly to his right to deny a Miley effort.

We made a triple change in the 77th minute with Mathys Tel, Xavi Simons and Richarlison replacing Johnson, Bergvall and Randal Kolo Muani and within a minute, we’d levelled the scores. Switching the play from left to right through Tel to Pedro Porro to Kudus, the latter then delivered a lovely cross which Romero met with a diving header into the bottom corner past Ramsdale.

But parity was short-lived. At a Newcastle corner with 10 minutes left, Bentancur and Burn fell to the ground and referee Thomas Bramall was advised to check the pitchside monitor for a foul by Bentancur. He duly awarded the penalty and Gordon slammed home from 12 yards. That could have been that, but our captain fantastic had other ideas. Five minutes into stoppage time, Pedro Porro sent over an in-swinging corner which caused havoc in the Newcastle box, players falling to the ground as Ramsdale punched the ball away. One of them was Romero, but he was up quick as a flash to produce a spectacular overhead kick which might have come off his shin, but it bounced through a crowd of players and ended up in the back of the net for an incredible equaliser. We even had time for one more corner as we went for the win, but this Porro cross ended in the arms of Ramsdale as the final whistle blew on a dramatic contest.

Lize Kop continued her strong start to the season on Tuesday night with another clean sheet – this time helping the Netherlands to a thumping 5-0 win over South Korea.

Earning her fourth consecutive start for her nation over the last two international windows, our shot stopper registered her ninth clean sheet of the campaign for Club and country – having preserved seven for us across all competitions.

The home side didn’t take long to break the deadlock in Waalwijk as Viviane Miedema opened the scoring on nine minutes and by the 38th minute, the Dutch forward had netted her fourth of the friendly clash to give them a four-goal lead.

Ella Peddemers then netted the fifth and final goal of the contest just three minutes before the break, wrapping up an excellent night for the Netherlands.

It was a rather quiet night for Lize who had just two shots to contend with to earn her second clean sheet in four games for her nation.

Elsewhere, Martha Thomas was a second half substitute for Scotland in their 3-2 win over China in Spain.

The forward entered the fray just after the hour mark, replacing Kirsty Howat who had netted a brace in the first half.

Kirsty Hanson had also found the back of the net in between Howat’s double to give Scotland a three-goal lead by the 15th-minute mark. Former Spur Zhang Linyan pulled one back for the away side on the half hour mark before Zhang Rui cut the deficit on the hour mark, however, the Scots were able to withstand any late pressure to hold on to the victory.

We can confirm the starting lineups and substitutes for tonight's Premier League encounter against Newcastle United at St James' Park (kick-off 8.15pm).

Thomas Frank has made four changes to the team that started against Fulham last time out on Saturday night.

Cristian Romero returns to captain the side after serving his one-match suspension with Rodrigo Bentancur, Pape Matar Sarr and Brennan Johnson also coming into the team, replacing Micky van de Ven, Joao Palhinha, Archie Gray and Richarlison who are amongst our substitutes.

Here’s our team in full...

Starting XI: Vicario, Danso, Udogie, Bergvall, Romero (c), Kudus, Johnson, Pedro Porro, Sarr, Bentancur, Kolo Muani.

Substitutes: Kinsky, Palhinha, Xavi, Richarlison, Tel, Gray, Spence, Odobert, van de Ven.

Kota Takai played his first minutes in a Spurs shirt with Radu Dragusin also stepping up his return to fitness in a training ground friendly for our Under-21s against Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday afternoon.

Japan international defender Kota, 21, joined us in the summer from J1 League side Kawasaki Frontale but plantar fasciitis and a subsequent thigh problem have unfortunately kept him on the sidelines since his arrival.

After working hard on his rehabilitation, he lined up alongside Radu and our Under-21s for a useful initial run-out against the Daggers at Hotspur Way.

Both defenders had their minutes carefully managed – Kota played the first half, while Radu completed 65 minutes before being substituted.

It was Radu’s second outing for Wayne Burnett’s side, after playing in a similar training ground friendly against Leyton Orient last month following his ACL injury in January.

Under-21s defender Maeson King also picked up some useful minutes in his first action since getting injured at the end of last season. Named in our first team squad twice last term, the 20-year-old left-back completed the second half against the National League South outfit.

Micky van de Ven took November's Goal of the Month vote by storm with his sensational solo run and finish against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Champions League taking the top prize.

Leading 2-0 and down to 10 men on the night, the centre-back picked the ball up from his own box and carried the ball a whopping 67.7m - a competition record - before showing the composure to fire into the back of the net on our way to winning 4-0 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 4 November.

In a month that brought some exquisite Spurs strikes, it was always going to take an outrageous effort to topple the Dutch international who claimed 81 per cent of your vote to win last month's award.

Goal of the Month winners 2025/26

August, 2025 | Richarlison's second vs Burnley

September, 2025 | Cathinka Tandberg vs Everton

October, 2025 | Leo Black vs AS Monaco U19

November, 2025 | Micky van de Ven vs FC Copenhagen

Richarlison will be looking to revive his impressive Premier League return against Newcastle United in this evening's late kick-off at St James' Park (8.15pm UK).

The Brazil international has been involved in six goals in 10 league appearances against Newcastle (four goals, two assists), only managing more against Liverpool in the competition (four goals, three assists).

In his last top-flight outing against the Magpies, our number nine scored twice in a 4-1 home win in December 2023 and heads into tonight's contest as our current top scorer with five goals.

The Brazilian was back amongst the goals in November with his first Champions League goal of the campaign at Paris Saint-Germain following up his strikes against Manchester United and Arsenal in the league and has 16 goals in his last 23 Premier League starts.

We head into Tuesday's clash on Tyneside almost inseparable in the league standings with us locked on 18 points and sitting one place above 13th-place Newcastle on goal difference.

Despite a poor recent record at St James' Park, winless in three trips there since a 3-2 success in October 2021, we have still impressed away from home this season, claiming 13 of 18 top-flight points available. We are also unbeaten in all four away games outside of London this season (W3 D1), last enjoying a longer such run between March and October 2022 (six matches).