Son Heung-min Announces He's Leaving Spurs Amid Links To LAFC

After 10 years with Tottenham, captain Son Heung-min announced on Saturday that he plans to leave the English Premier League club.

Son, who helped Spurs win the Europa League title in May, said it was "the most difficult" decision of his career and added the club was supporting him as he looks to find another team, with Los Angeles FC a possible landing spot.

The 33-year-old South Korea international will start against Newcastle in a preseason friendly Sunday in Seoul in what could be his final match with the team.

Son, who scored 173 goals in 454 competitive appearances for Tottenham, opened the news conference by announcing he has "decided to leave this club in this summer" and that Spurs are "helping me to my decisions."

"I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, very young age, a young boy came to London who even didn’t speak English and leaving this club as a grown man is a very, very proud moment," said Son, who fought back tears during his announcement.

"So I just want to say thank you to all of the Spurs fans," he added, "that gave me so much love and felt like it was my home. It was one of the toughest decisions I ever made.... But I think it’s the right time to make this decision."

Son was asked in Korean about his future playing plans, and he replied: "I don’t think I have an answer yet."

He has been heavily linked with a move to LAFC, and there is reported interest from Saudi Arabian clubs.

Son also confirmed in Korean that he would play at the World Cup next summer in North America.

In May, Son finally won his first title in Europe when Tottenham defeated Manchester United in the Europa League final — the club's first major trophy since 2008. After that match, he said: "I felt the pressure. I wanted it