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Evening Standard
Evening Standard
Sport
Matt Verri

Tottenham confirm Heung min-Son return: ‘Sonny’s coming home’

Heung-min Son captained Tottenham to Europa League glory last season - (Getty Images)

Heung-min Son will get his chance to say a proper goodbye to the Tottenham fans ahead of the Champions League match against Slavia Prague.

The 33-year-old left Spurs in the summer to join Los Angeles FC in the MLS after a decade in north London.

He ended his time at Spurs on the ultimate high, lifting the Europa League trophy as club captain to end the 17-year wait for silverware.

Son announced his departure in the summer while in South Korea on the pre-season tour and has not returned to the Spurs stadium since.

(Getty Images)

That will change on December 9 when Son will be in attendance for the Champions League match at home to Slavia Prague.

Son will be on the pitch before kick-off for a ceremony to official bid farewell to the club. He will also be handed the microphone to directly address supporters.

He said: “When I announced my difficult decision to leave Spurs in the summer, it was in Korea and I never got a proper chance to say goodbye to fans at the stadium.

“Now I am so happy because I am going to come back to London on 9th December, for the Champions League match, and be able to tell the Spurs fans in person just how much their support and love over 10 years has meant to me and my family. It will be emotional, but it's important for me and the Club that this happens.”

The forward has hit the ground running at LAFC, where he plays alongside former Spurs team-mate Hugo Lloris.

In 13 appearances for the club Son scored 12 goals and provided four assists, before the season ended in a play-off defeat to Vancouver Whitecaps.

The new MLS campaign does not start until February and there have been suggestions that Son could secure a short-term loan move to a European club to maintain his fitness.

David Beckham twice did that while at LA Galaxy, joining AC Milan, but Son has shut down the possibility of him doing likewise.

He said: "I've never spoken to any club about a winter move. Such talk is simply untrue. For me, showing respect to my club and giving everything where I play — that's what matters most. That won't change.

"I won't leave LAFC this winter, or ever, while I'm here. I respect this club deeply. As long as I'm wearing this badge, there will be no such thing as a loan or a move. Never.

"I know fans get confused when rumours fly, but those stories aren't true. And honestly, it might be disrespectful to my team to even talk that way. I love this club, and I have huge respect for everyone here."

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