Son Heung-min was mobbed by his Tottenham team-mates on Sunday after playing his final game for the club. The winger featured for just over an hour in Tottenham’s pre-season clash with Newcastle before being substituted by manager Thomas Frank.
Tottenham signed Son from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, with the 33-year-old going on to bag 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 competitive outings for the club. He captained his side to the Europa League trophy in May as Spurs defeated Manchester United in the final. But the South Korea international announced that he would be departing the club this summer, with Spurs currently in the player’s homeland on a pre-season tour.
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Son was replaced by summer signing Mohammed Kudus 19 minutes into the second half against Newcastle.
And the Spurs players mobbed the departing player as they applauded him, hugged him and patted him on the back and head. Newcastle players also showed their respect to the player as they joined in with the tributes.
Son was visibly emotional as he left the pitch, with staff and players on the sidelines also showing their appreciation of him.
Son, who still has another year remaining on his Tottenham contract, has featured in both of Spurs’ matches in the Far East, with the star coming on as a substitute during his team’s 1-0 victory over Arsenal in Hong Kong at the end of last month.
But he is now reportedly in advanced negotiations with MLS team Los Angeles FC and is expected to sign for the club in the near future.
Son addressed his future during a teary press conference in South Korea on Friday as he announced his intention to leave the club.
And the ace explained: “Before we start the press conference, I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer. Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision.
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“It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision.
“I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change - 10 years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age. I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man.
“I want to say thank you to all the Spurs fans for giving me so much love. I hope the goodbye is also good timing and this is the right time to make that decision. I hope everyone can accept that and respect that.”