Son Heung-min has admitted that joining Los Angeles FC was not his “first choice,” but a conversation with the club’s president convinced him to make the move for a record Major League Soccer (MLS) fee.
BBC Sport understands LAFC paid more than £20m for the former Tottenham Hotspur captain, surpassing the previous MLS record of £16.5m paid by Atlanta United for Emmanuel Latte Lath earlier this year. Son has signed a two-year contract with the option of a further two years.
The 33-year-old, who watched LAFC’s 2-1 Leagues Cup win over Tigres UANL on Tuesday, said:
“It’s a dream come true. LA – what a city. If I’m honest, it was not my first choice. But my first call with [LAFC co-president] John Thorrington after the season ended changed my heart and my mind. He showed me where I should be, and now I’m more than happy and so excited.”
In a club statement, Son added:
“Los Angeles has such a rich history of champions, and I am here to help write the next chapter. I’ve come to LA to lift trophies and give everything for this club, this city, and its fans.”
Son ends a decade-long spell at Tottenham, where he scored 173 goals in 454 appearances after joining from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015. He captained Spurs to their first trophy in 17 years, beating Manchester United in the Europa League final in May, and made his final appearance in a 1-1 pre-season friendly against Newcastle in Seoul on Sunday.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy paid tribute:
“Sonny is one of the greatest players to ever wear the famous Lilywhite shirt. He has been a joy to watch, a wonderfully gifted footballer, and an incredible human being who has touched hearts and inspired people throughout the club and around the world. We are forever grateful and wish him all the best for the future. He will always be welcome back as a beloved member of our Spurs family.”
Son will reunite with former Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris at LAFC, who sit sixth in the Western Conference.
