South Korean football star Son Heung-min is on the verge of completing a sensational move to Major League Soccer side Los Angeles FC for a record-breaking $26 million transfer fee.
Though the move has yet to be officially confirmed, multiple sources including ESPN and The Athletic report that Son, who departed Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, will sign with LAFC imminently. The deal would become the most expensive transfer in MLS history.
Fueling the speculation, LAFC have scheduled a press conference for Wednesday at 2:00 p.m. local time (2100 GMT), billed as a “major announcement” — widely expected to be Son’s unveiling.
Rumours of Son’s arrival sparked excitement across Los Angeles, with about 40 eager fans gathering at Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday, hoping to catch a glimpse of the 32-year-old forward following reports he had landed.
However, Son remained out of public view following his emotional send-off in South Korea earlier in the day.
“Son is immensely important to me. I used to wake up at five or six in the morning to watch him play in England,” said 19-year-old fan Jun Kwon.
“He’s going to change things here. My father and I, who had no interest in MLS, are already won over.”
Jun was clad in a freshly bought gold-and-black LAFC jersey, proudly bearing Son’s name on the back.
After a decade at Tottenham, Son leaves behind an impressive legacy, having scored 173 goals in 454 appearances. The South Korean captain confirmed his departure following his final match for Spurs last weekend in Seoul.
At LAFC, Son will take over the attacking role previously held by French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July. He’ll reunite with former Spurs teammate and current LAFC goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, adding a familiar face to his new chapter in the U.S.
Son’s arrival is expected to make waves not just in MLS but across the wider football world, with fans and analysts already calling the move a major milestone for the league’s global appeal.