Wed Aug 06 02:50:00 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary and rewrite as a news article:**

**Summary:**

LAFC has acquired Korean superstar Son Heung-min from Tottenham Hotspur for a league-record $26.5 million. The move brings a hugely popular and talented player to Los Angeles, a city with a significant Korean population, and elevates the profile of MLS. Son, 33, cited a need for a fresh challenge after a decade with Tottenham, where he became a club legend. His arrival continues a trend of high-profile signings in MLS, following in the footsteps of Lionel Messi and others, aiming to increase the league’s global appeal. The signing underscores MLS’s ambition to grow as it approaches the 2026 World Cup.

**News Article:**

**LAFC Lands Korean Superstar Son Heung-min in League-Record Deal**

LOS ANGELES – LAFC has officially announced the signing of Korean international Son Heung-min from Tottenham Hotspur in a blockbuster deal worth a league-record $26.5 million. Sources confirm the 33-year-old winger is set to be unveiled as an LAFC player in the coming days.

Son’s arrival instantly makes him one of the biggest names in MLS alongside Lionel Messi, and is expected to provide a significant boost to LAFC’s already strong team, which has been a consistent contender for the MLS Cup. His commercial appeal is also expected to be enormous, particularly in Los Angeles, home to the largest Korean population in the United States.

“After a decade with Tottenham, I felt the need for a new challenge,” Son stated, reflecting on his time with Spurs. “I’m grateful the club respected my decision. I leave as a man and thank the Spurs fans for their love.”

During his time in North London, Son became one of Tottenham’s all-time greats, scoring 127 Premier League goals and amassing 71 assists.

“Sonny is Tottenham, and Tottenham is Sonny,” teammate James Maddison said prior to his departure.

The record fee paid by LAFC surpasses the $22 million Atlanta United spent on Emmanuel Latte Lath. The signing is seen as another step in MLS’s strategy to attract world-class talent, following in the wake of Messi’s arrival and recent additions of stars like Thomas Müller and Rodrigo De Paul.

MLS Commissioner Don Garber has hinted at major changes to the league’s structure in the future, and Son’s signing represents a key part of that vision – blending high-profile players with strategic player acquisitions to elevate the league’s overall standard.

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