As it becomes increasingly certain that Son Heung-min (33), a legend of the English Premier League’s Tottenham Hotspur and a marquee star of Korean football, will sign with Major League Soccer’s (MLS) LAFC (as reported on the front page of this newspaper on August 4), reports suggest an official announcement could come as early as August 6.On August 4, major outlets such as the UK’s BBC reported in unison, “Son Heung-min, LAFC, and Tottenham have finalized a contract with a transfer fee of approximately £20 million ($26 million).”

This amount could break the MLS record for the highest transfer fee, surpassing the previous record of £16.6 million set by Emmanuel Lath’s transfer to Atlanta United earlier this year.Sports outlet ESPN, citing sources, reported, “An official announcement regarding Son Heung-min’s contract with LAFC is expected as early as Wednesday (August 6).”The BBC, CBS Sports, The Athletic, and GiveMeSport reported, “Son Heung-min has decided to leave Tottenham this summer and has chosen to move to the U.S.,” adding, “All contracts have been finalized, and he is set to arrive in LA soon for a medical test and official announcement.” LAFC, which has been competing with local rivals LA Galaxy since its founding in 2014, anticipates that signing a global star like Son will boost both team performance and brand value.

Over the past decade at Tottenham, Son has recorded 173 goals and 101 assists in 454 official matches, ranking fifth in the club’s all-time scoring list. Notably, in 2022, he became the first Asian player to win the EPL Golden Boot with 23 goals, and in 2024, he led Tottenham to the Europa League title as captain, lifting his first trophy.The news has sparked excitement among Korean football fans in LA and Orange County. Shin (61), a resident of Irvine, said, “I used to watch Son Heung-min’s games on TV, but now I’ll have the chance to see him in person,” adding, “I’ve already booked tickets through the LAFC website.” He continued, “I always dreamed of going to London to watch Son play, but now I’m thrilled to cheer for him in our own neighborhood.

”The Athletic noted, “LA has the largest Korean population in the U.S., and Son Heung-min’s presence is expected to have a significant impact not only on the LA region but also on MLS’s overall popularity.” Following Lionel Messi’s move to Inter Miami, Son’s potential transfer to LAFC is heating up the MLS summer transfer market. Son is expected to join LAFC as a Designated Player (also known as the Beckham Rule), a status that allows star players to receive high salaries exempt from the league’s salary cap. The current highest-paid MLS players are Messi ($20.4 million) and Lorenzo Insigne ($15.4 million).GiveMeSport reported, “Son Heung-min is likely to surpass Sergio Busquets, who currently earns $8.7 million, the third-highest salary in MLS.” With Insigne’s contract nearing its end, there is speculation that Son could become the second-highest-paid player in the league.

LAFC recently terminated its contract with French national team player Olivier Giroud, leaving an open Designated Player slot. There are also speculations that preparations for Son’s signing have been underway for months. At a press conference for the Coupang Play Series against Newcastle United in Seoul on August 2, Son stated, “I’ve decided to leave Tottenham this summer after 10 years together,” adding, “Having achieved a meaningful title in Europe, I now want to take on a new challenge in a different environment.” He further noted, “The 2026 North and Central America World Cup is important, and I chose a team where I can play football happily moving forward. ”Upon joining LAFC, Son will become the ninth Korean player to enter the MLS. After receiving a standing ovation from the crowd following the Newcastle match, effectively bidding farewell, he is expected to head to the U.S. soon.