Son Heung-min Bids Emotional Farewell to Tottenham

Son Heung-min back at Tottenham for the first time following his departure to MLS side LAFC

Son Heung-min says goodbye to Tottenham Hotspur after 10 incredible years, vowing “I will always be Spurs.”

“I hope you guys don't forget me here. It's been an amazing 10 years, guys...”

Xavi Simons is determined to make his mark at Tottenham Hotspur, wearing the iconic number seven shirt previously worn by Son Heung-min. Simons scored in Tottenham's 3-0 Champions League win over Slavia Prague, following his impressive performance against Brentford last weekend.

Simons had the opportunity to meet Son Heung-min, who was back at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to bid farewell to the fans. Simons expressed his admiration for the former Spurs star, saying, “He is a big legend for the club and it's a real pleasure for me to take this number and build my own legacy.”

Xavi Simons scored a late penalty to seal Tottenham's 3-0 win over Slavia Prague, marking a fitting end to Son Heung-min's emotional farewell at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Son, who spent a decade with the club, received a standing ovation and expressed his gratitude, saying, “I hope you guys don't forget me here. It's been an amazing 10 years, guys. I just want to say thank you. I will be always Spurs and I will always be with you.”

“It is really nice to score the goals, but feeling great on the pitch, that is the most important for me and I'm enjoying it,” said Xavi.

The 22-year-old, a £52 million summer transfer window signing from RB Leipzig, added: “I didn't meet Son (before) personally and now a little bit. He is a big legend for the club and it's a real pleasure for me to take this number and build my own legacy, so really happy to meet him.”

Son Heung-min, the South Korean captain, scored 173 goals in 454 appearances for Tottenham Hotspur, with his last competitive match being the Europa League final win over Manchester United on May 21st. He left Spurs in the pre-season to join Los Angeles FC, missing the chance to bid farewell to fans until his emotional return to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Tuesday.

Son's departure was a surprise, and he didn't get to say goodbye to the fans in a proper setting. However, he was presented with a commemorative trophy by former Tottenham defender Ledley King and addressed the crowd, expressing his gratitude and love for the club and its supporters.

Another Champions League win at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium 🤩 pic.twitter.com/hJIB0KT6rp

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 9, 2025

Son Heung-min returned to Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where a mural depicting him was unveiled on the Tottenham High Road earlier that day. The artwork captures his iconic camera celebration and him lifting the Europa League trophy, symbolizing his remarkable tenure at the club.

Addressing a crowd of 47,821, Son's voice cracked as he said, “I hope you guys don't forget me here... It's been an amazing 10 years, guys. It's been an incredible 10 years. I just want to say thank you. I will be always Spurs, and I will always be with you.” His emotional speech brought the crowd to its feet, with fans visibly moved by his heartfelt farewell.

Speaking to Korean media afterwards, he said: “First of all, I'm happy to be back in a place where I spent my youth and is like a home.

“I'm so grateful that so many fans welcomed me and cheered for me. It was a little hard (on Monday) because the flight time was longer than I thought, but I had a really happy day. Thank you so much.”

Mathys Tel, who joined Spurs' Champions League squad as an injury replacement for Dominic Solanke, was thrilled to reunite with Son Heung-min. The young French forward was among those who got to catch up with the Korean superstar, expressing his admiration and gratitude.

Tel's own performance in the Champions League win over Slavia Prague was impressive, and he was delighted to share the moment with Son, who presented him with the match ball after the game. The encounter served as a valuable learning experience for Tel, who is eager to continue learning from the best.

“Sonny is like my big brother,” said Tel. “He is always texting me, his support is always behind me, so back in the Champions League, we won and Sonny was there... a lot of good things.

“Sonny is a big legend at Tottenham, so when a guy like Sonny comes after he did everything, you give everything for him.”