Still "Miss Them" After 14 Months…Son Heung-min's 454 Tottenham Appearances and 173 Goals

After LAFC drew 1-1 with New York City FC, Son reportedly answered Tottenham fans' cheers with "I still miss them." A late shot hit the crossbar.

Translated from Korean with AI assistance. Read the original. Sources and original publication dates are retained.

14 months. That is how long it has been since Son Heung-min took off his Tottenham shirt. Tottenham announced his full transfer to LAFC on August 6, 2025. Counting from that day to October 20, 2026, it has been just over14 months. Tottenham fans' chants still continue at American stadiums. Son's response to those chants has now been reported in an article for the first time.

Son Heung-min 1-1 vs New York City, Late Crossbar…"I Still Miss Them" After the Match

The match was played on October 17, local time in the U.S., at New York City FC's home ground. Son won a free kick, and that free kick led to LAFC's opening goal. Late in the match, a chance for the winning goal came. The shot hit the crossbar. According to LAFC's official match review, the final score was 1-1. Field Level Media also reported the same result.

The question came after the match ended. It asked how he feels about Tottenham fans following him with their support even on the road. OSEN and Chosun Biz English edition reported on October 19 that Son answered, "I still miss them." On the same day, it was reported that the overseas outlet To The Lane and Back also carried his remark, "Probably I'm the most passionate Tottenham fan."

This statement is not an official statement from the club or the player. It is an emotional remark made in a post-match interview. There is no content mentioning a return to Tottenham or a change in his contract. This article cites media reports, and the original video could not be confirmed. Son's contract with LAFC runs through 2027, with the 2028 and 2029 seasons included as options.

From the transfer announcement to the interview report

Date	Details	Source
2025.08.06	Tottenham announces Son's full transfer to LAFC	Tottenham·MLS
2026.10.17 (U.S. local time)	New York City FC away, 1-1, late shot hits crossbar	LAFC·Field Level Media
2026.10.19	"I still miss them" interview report	OSEN and Chosun Biz English edition

The interview report used the phrase "nearly one and a half years," but by the dates it doesn't add up. For 18 months to pass from August 6, 2025, the date would have to be February 6, 2027. The current point is about two weeks past 14 months. The phrase may heighten the emotion, but it is hard to use as a fact describing the elapsed time.

Son Heung-min's Tottenham record of 454 appearances, 173 goals, and Europa League title

There is a reason Son misses Tottenham. The Tottenham club's transfer announcement lists his official record as 454 appearances, 173 goals. That is the fifth-highest scorer in club history. Dividing 173 by 454 gives 0.38 goals per match, which is more than one goal every three games. The club's player profile page lists 473 appearances. However, that page has no publication date, so this article follows the transfer announcement, which has a clear date.

His final season at Tottenham also brought a trophy. As captain, Son lifted the UEFA Europa League title in the 2024-25 season. It was a trophy he lifted after playing 10 seasons at Tottenham following his arrival in 2015. Before that, he also set records in a Tottenham shirt, such as co-winning the Premier League Golden Boot in 2021-22 and the 2020 FIFA Puskás Award.

His record with LAFC is also strong. Reports put the transfer fee at up to $26.5 million, a league record. This amount was not officially confirmed by the club; it is a reported figure. This season, he has 7 goals in MLS, 15 assists, to sit alone atop the assist charts (as of the October 15, 2026 match against Austin FC). That is one more than second-place Messi (14 assists), and his total goals across all competitions are 9.

At 34 years old, Son is leading MLS in assists while not hiding his feelings for his former club. However, no evidence has been confirmed that this remark signals a change in his career.

Frequently asked questions

Q. When was Son's transfer from Tottenham?

Tottenham announced Son's full transfer to LAFC on August 6, 2025. As of October 20, 2026, about 14 months have passed. The "one and a half years" in some reports is longer than the actual period.

Q. How much is Son's salary?

According to MLS Players Association data (as of April 16, 2026), his base salary is $10,368,750, and his average guaranteed annual compensation is $11,152,852. Guaranteed compensation was the second-highest in MLS, behind Lionel Messi. However, this is not the ranking as of October 2026.

Rank	Player	Average guaranteed annual compensation (USD)	Club
1	Lionel Messi	28,333,333	Inter Miami
2	Son Heung-min	11,152,852	LAFC
3	Rodrigo De Paul	9,688,320	Inter Miami
4	Irving Rosano	9,333,333	San Diego FC

Q. Does Son's "I still miss them" remark mean a return to Tottenham?

No confirmed content indicates a return. It was a response to Tottenham fans' support in a post-match interview and is not an official statement. His contract with LAFC runs through 2027, with options for the 2028 and 2029 seasons.

Official websites

Tottenham Hotspur official website — check Son's transfer announcement and club records
LAFC official website — check match reviews and schedule
MLS official match records — detailed record of the New York City FC vs. LAFC 1-1 match
MLS Players Association official salary data — raw compensation data for MLS players, including Son

Lead image · archive photo · not a photo from the match currently covered in the article · Photo: Wikimedia Commons (dom fellowes from UK), CC BY 2.0