Los Angeles has rolled out the red carpet for a global sports star.
The Los Angeles Football Club Wednesday formally introduced South Korean soccer icon Son Heung-Min as the newest member of the team.
During a news conference at BMO Stadium, Son thanked the team’s leadership for convincing him to join the Los Angeles team although LAFC wasn’t his first choice as his contract with Tottenham Hotspur came to an end.
“John (Thorrington) called me. He changed my mind, changed my heart,” Son recalled the phone call with LACF Co-president John Thorrington.
“LA, what a city!” Son said. “Thank you to everyone who made big, big efforts to (get) me here. I’m here to win.”
Son said he felt that he was ready for a “new chapter, new challenge” as he decided to move across the ocean.
“I’m ready to show you some exciting football,” the former captain of the Tottenham team said.
While the transfer fee is estimated to be $25 million, setting a new all-time Major League Soccer record, neither Son nor the team’s ownership confirmed the figure.
Thorrington said he “honestly, opened” shared what LAFC is all about in his sales pitch to Sonny, a nickname for Son.
Son, who was beloved by Tottenham fans for his work ethic and friendly personality, was the right fit for the team, according to Thorrington, who said LAFC is not just about winning, but winning the right way.
“Sonny is this unbelievable, charismatic guy but matched with this humility that he walks around with,” the LAFC co-president said. “This is a very player centric club, and everything we do is designed to help them perform.”
Son Heung-Min is Black & Gold.
Son Heung-Min signs for #LAFC from Tottenham Hotspur on a permanent transfer through 2027 with options through June 2029.
— LAFC (@LAFC) August 6, 2025
News conferences involving sports figures rarely attract politicians, but LA Mayor Karen Bass and City Councilmember Heather Hutt attended Wednesday’s event as they look to World Cup 2026.
“It’s a moment that will be remembered in the city for generations to come,” Bass said of the signing of Son. “Your decision to come here now sends a very strong message. Los Angeles isn’t just ready to host FIFA. Los Angeles is ready to lead.”
Alluding to the impact of immigration raids on the Los Angeles Korean community, Bass said Son’s arrival is a bright spot for Angelenos.
“Sonny, you are coming at a perfect time because this year has been a tough year for LA,” the mayor explained. “Our momentum and our magic is back, and today we celebrate that together we are one city.”
LAFC had been in search of a new attacking star after Olivier Giroud returned to France last month. The void left by the Frenchman’s exit will now be filled by a player who’s scored 173 goals in 454 appearances for Tottenham—ranking fifth all-time in club history and trailing only the likes of Harry Kane and Jimmy Greaves.
More than numbers, though, Son brought moments. Big ones. Goals in North London derbies. That stunning solo run against Burnley. The heartbreaking Champions League Final in 2019. And finally—after years of heartbreak—a Europa League title this past May, Tottenham’s first major trophy since 2008.
While some see this move as a farewell tour, Son sees it as a launchpad.
With the 2026 FIFA World Cup fast approaching—and North America set to host—Son’s transition to MLS puts him on the ground early. He’s still the heartbeat of the South Korean national team, where he serves as captain and all-time leading scorer among active players. The tournament may be his last, and he wants to be ready.
“My biggest priority now is the World Cup,” Son said. “I want to play with joy, give everything I have, and be in the best environment possible.”
That environment is now Banc of California Stadium, under the California sun.
This story uses functionality that may not work in our app. Click here to open the story in your web browser.
Source: NBC Bay Area
Be First to Comment