Son explained that his first reaction was sceptical. “I got a call from my agent saying, ‘LAFC are interested, and do you want to go to LA? Do you want to go play in MLS?’ I was like, ‘Wow, I’m that old?’” he said.
That honesty is what stands out. With one year reportedly left on his Tottenham contract at the time, Son said he had begun to think about a change after such a long spell in England, but not necessarily this one. What shifted matters most: “I was finally ending up on a Zoom call with LAFC,” Son said. “We talked, and then I straight felt that, ‘Wow, this is very interesting.’ They’ve been following me for many years.”
For a player who had captained Spurs, that sense of being specifically wanted appears to have been decisive.
Son framed the move as a personal reset, saying he needed “a new chapter.” That makes this feel less like an exit and more like a choice. LAFC’s persistence seems to have told him he was not just a famous name, but part of a plan.
It also says something about MLS. Son admitted his view of the league has changed dramatically: “I’m always surprised every single week on the league’s improvement.” He added, “Before I joined, I didn’t even know about MLS, but I’m really, really surprised about every single game.”
Against the backdrop of Tottenham’s early attacking struggles this season, other reports suggest the timing has only sharpened the sense of transition at both club and player level.
Now the focus shifts to how Son settles into life in Los Angeles and how much impact he can make on the pitch. If his words are any guide, this is not a farewell tour. It is a move he believes in, and one LAFC worked hard to make happen.