Korean superstar Son Heung-min joins LAFC

This image captured from Los Angeles Football Club's official website, Aug. 7, shows Son Heung-min, Korean forward for the Major League Soccer team. Yonhap

Korean football icon Son Heung-min is now a member of Los Angeles Football Club (LAFC) in Major League Soccer (MLS).

LAFC announced their signing of Son, 33, just before a press conference at BMO Stadium in downtown Los Angeles on Wednesday afternoon (local time), or early Thursday morning in Korea.

"Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football," said LAFC Co-President and General Manager John Thorrington, referring to Son by his popular nickname. "His ambition, ability, and character align perfectly with our values at LAFC. We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career. Sonny is a proven winner and a world-class individual, and we are confident he will elevate our club and inspire our community — both on and off the pitch."

Son spent the past 10 years with Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League, a run that saw him win the Golden Boot as the league's top scorer in the 2021-22 season and lift the UEFA Europa League trophy as club captain in May this year.

While in Seoul for a preseason match, Son first announced Saturday that he would leave Tottenham this summer, without revealing his next destination. He then bid a teary farewell to Tottenham fans in Korea in a 1-1 draw against Newcastle United at Seoul World Cup Stadium on Sunday.

"It feels very special to play (in front of a very passionate Korean fanbase)," Son Heung-min shared at the Los Angeles Football Club's press conference, Thursday, Aug. 7. Courtesy of LAFC

Son stayed put as the rest of Tottenham returned to London, and then he traveled to Los Angeles on Tuesday to finalize his move to LAFC.

Son ended his Spurs tenure as the fifth-best scorer in club history with 173 goals in 454 matches in all competitions.

Son had one year left on his contract with Spurs and chose to move to another league instead of playing out the string in England.

Korean football star Son Heung-min waves at fans at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, before departing for Los Angeles, Aug. 5. Yonhap

In explaining his decision to leave Saturday, Son said he wanted to put himself in a situation where he could prepare for the 2026 FIFA World Cup the best he could. With the big tournament set to be co-hosted by the United States, Canada and Mexico, and LAFC having already been rumored to be Son's next stop, it became a foregone conclusion that Son would take his talent to America and sign with the LA team.

"Bringing Sonny to LAFC and to our city has been a dream of ours for several years," LAFC Lead Managing Owner Bennett Rosenthal said. "My partners and I are huge admirers of Sonny the player and Sonny the person. His signing is a statement of our commitment to excellence on the pitch and our ambition to continue to build our reputation as a world class club on the global football stage. Sonny as a player and person will inspire not only our fans in LA and the incredible community in Southern California, but millions of fans around the world."