LAFC’s Record Son Deal Brings Global Buzz and Local Pride

LAFC is making a massive investment in Son Heung-min, but there are already early signs to support the team’s move.

The MLS club announced the signing of the South Korean star at a press conference Wednesday, less than a week after he announced he was leaving Tottenham Hotspur. He spent 10 years with the English Premier League club.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, though multiple reports have indicated the transfer fee paid to Tottenham could be as high as $26.5 million (£20 million)—which would smash the MLS record of $22 million that Atlanta United paid to acquire Emmanuel Latte Lath from Middlesbrough FC.

The team revealed that his deal runs through 2027 and has options for 2028 and 2029.

The South Korean star—who led Tottenham to the 2024 UEFA Europa League title—is expected to bring a ton of fanfare to the club due to his heritage.

Son said Thursday that it’s a “dream come true” to play in the city of Los Angeles. The city boasts the largest population of Koreans in the U.S., and, according to L.A. mayor Karen Bass, the largest outside of Seoul, the capital city of South Korea.

“As a Korean, to know that Koreatown here in Los Angeles has so many Koreans, I’m very proud to be a part of the club and this city here,” Son said Wednesday in Korean.

From Seoul to SoCal

Fanatics tells FOS that since Son’s official LAFC announcement was made Wednesday, his merchandise is tops among any athlete across all sports.

He is No. 2 in sales all-time for any MLS player that has joined a new team, only behind Lionel Messi when he joined Inter Miami in August 2023.

His intro video and press conference have both drawn more than 170,000 views on LAFC’s YouTube account, which are both more than 90 times the team average, according to sports and entertainment firm Two Circles.

Among all MLS teams, LAFC has the sixth-largest percentage of Asian social media followers (5.6% on Instagram, TikTok, and X). They are also second in the league in percentage of Hispanic followers (27.6%) while having the second-lowest percentage of white followers (35%) behind only their crosstown rivals, the LA Galaxy.

Son will be sixth among all MLS players in social media followers (20 million), behind the likes of Lionel Messi (637 million), Luis Suárez (85 million), and Thomas Müller (43 million), who just signed with Vancouver FC.

On-Field Help

While the 33-year-old is already at the back end of his career, he’s still expected to provide an on-field jolt for LAFC when he makes his debut, which could come as soon as Saturday against the Chicago Fire if he’s able to receive his P-1 visa. 

Son scored 127 goals during his decade-long EPL career, the most of any Asian player in league history. In 2021, Son won the Premier League Golden Boot—which is awarded to the league’s leading goal-scorer—after scoring 23 goals.

He scored just seven goals last season as Tottenham finished 17th in the EPL table, but still finished top 10 in the league in assists.

“Performance-wise, I can’t guarantee because football, as a performance, you will have ups and downs. But for sure I can guarantee that I will give everything when I wear these shirts and I will make them proud,” Son said.

The Black and Gold, which first joined MLS in 2018, are currently in sixth place in the Western Conference.