• Loading stock data...
Wednesday, August 27, 2025
Front Office Sports Honors winners are here! View the 2025 winners

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

LAFC reportedly paid an MLS-record transfer fee to Tottenham to acquire the South Korean star.

Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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.

Linkedin
Whatsapp
Copy Link
Link Copied
Link Copied

What to Read

Inter Miami bench

Inter Miami Post-Red Card Phone Coaching May Have Been Legal

Javier Mascherano appeared to continue coaching through a call from the stands.

Premier League Sets New Highs: $3.2B Spent, Record U.S. Viewership

The league’s transfer spending beats the rest of Europe’s Big Five combined.
Bay FC

Bay FC Set to Break NWSL Attendance Record in San Francisco

NWSL players have often resisted playing at baseball stadiums.

Featured Today

‘You’re Going to Get Beat Up’: The Liberty’s All-Male Practice Squad

A select group suits up weekly to take on the defending champs.
August 24, 2025

The Honey Deuce Effect: How Tennis Perfected the Signature Cocktail

Sold every 1.5 seconds, they total more than $12 million in sales.
Dec 21, 2024; Austin, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Arch Manning (16) warms up as the Texas Longhorns prepare to play the Clemson Tigers in the first round of the College Football Playoffs at Darrell K Royal Texas Memorial Stadium.
August 23, 2025

Schools Are Hesitant to Allow PE Into Their Athletic Departments

Regardless of budget, schools don’t believe the risk is worth the reward.
Oct 2, 2024; Rosemont, IL, USA; Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti speaks with the media during the 2024 Big Ten Women’s Basketball media day at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center.
August 22, 2025

‘Not Ready to Jump In’: Power 4 Commissioners Aren’t Sold on PE

Top leaders in college sports have yet to see a satisfactory proposal.
August 26, 2025

NFL Roster Cut Deadline Passes After Backup QB Carousel

Several high-profile backups were traded or signed with new teams.
August 27, 2025

Keegan Bradley Declines Rare Ryder Cup Playing Captain Role

Bradley did not choose himself with one of his six captain’s picks.
Sponsored

Gareth Bale on MLS vs EPL, Retirement & Buying Cardiff City

Gareth Bale shares his post-soccer business playbook.
August 26, 2025

MLB Unveils 2026 Schedule As Big Changes Loom Soon After

Next year’s slate could be among the last in the current format.
August 26, 2025

Masters, Open Championship Offer New Paths for Qualifying in 2026

Winner of select national opens will now earn invitations.
Aug 24, 2025; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Scottie Scheffler takes his shot on the first hole during the final round of the TOUR Championship golf tournament.
August 25, 2025

Nine PGA Tour Players Earned More Than $10M During 2025 Season

The 2025 season ended at the Tour Championship on Sunday.
A'ja Wilson
exclusive
August 25, 2025

New WNBA CBA By Oct. 31 Deadline Appears Increasingly Unlikely

The sides could avoid a work stoppage with an extension.