Son Heung-min to leave Tottenham this summer after decade

Published

6 months ago

August 2, 2025

Son Heung-min

Tottenham captain Son Heung-min said on Saturday that he will leave the club this summer after a decade in north London.

The 33-year-old attacker joined the Premier League side from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 and went on to play more than 450 times for Spurs.

In May he lifted the Europa League trophy but he had a poor season overall by his high standards and struggled with a series of leg injuries.

“Before we start the press conference I wanted to say I have decided to leave the club this summer,” the South Korean told reporters in Seoul, where Tottenham are on a pre-season tour.

“Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision.”

Son, who has scored 173 goals for Spurs, did not say where he intends to go next and cut an emotional figure.

He has been linked with a move to the MLS in the United States.

“It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision,” Son said, flanked by new Tottenham boss Thomas Frank.

“I need a new environment to push myself. I need a little bit of change — 10 years is a long time. I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old, such a young age.

“I leave this club as a grown man, a very proud man.”

Speaking in Korean, Son said that winning a European trophy — Tottenham’s first European crown in 41 years — played “a big part” in his thinking.

“Winning a title in Europe felt like I had achieved everything I possibly could,” he said.

“I spent a lot of time reflecting on whether I wanted to experience football in a different environment, and I had those conversations with myself over and over again.”

Frank, who joined Spurs from Brentford in June, paid tribute to the South Korean skipper.

“For me, personally, I would have loved to have worked with this fantastic person and player,” said the Dane, who took over from the sacked Ange Postecoglou.

“He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect, one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League.”

Spurs will face Newcastle United on Sunday in Seoul, and Son is guaranteed a rapturous reception in front of his home fans.

Spurs have had a fairly quiet summer in the transfer market so far, with attacking midfielder Mohammed Kudus from West Ham their only major acquisition.

Morgan Gibbs-White had looked set to follow from Nottingham Forest but a £60 million move broke down.

AFP

PRESIDENT TINUBU CONDOLES WITH SAMUEL CHUKWUEZE OF THE SUPER EAGLES ON THE PASSING OF HIS MOTHER

Published

6 days ago

January 30, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

President Bola Tinubu sends his condolences

to Super Eagles forward Samuel Chukwueze on the passing of his mother.

The President also extends his sympathies to the family and friends of Mrs Sarah Chukwueze, who passed away on Thursday.

President Tinubu mourns with the Chukwueze family and encourages them to find solace in the memory and legacy of their late matriarch.

“The passing of Mrs Chukwueze, the mother of one of our bright football stars, just a few days after the passing of Super Eagles’ captain Wilfred Ndidi’s father, is deeply saddening.

I mourn with them, and I am with them in prayers during this difficult time,” the President says.

President Tinubu prays that God Almighty will grant the departed eternal rest.

Bayo Onanuga
Special Adviser to the President
(Information and Strategy)

EPL: Arsenal’s starting XI against Man Utd unveiled

Published

2 weeks ago

January 25, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Arsenal’s starting XI to face Manchester United in the Premier League on Sunday evening has been unveiled.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta opted to start Gabriel Jesus ahead of Viktor Gyokeres to lead the Gunners’ attack against the Red Devils.

This comes after Jesus scored a brace against Inter Milan in the Champions League in midweek.

The Brazilian will be assisted by Bukayo Saka and Leandro on the wings.

In midfield, Declan Rice and Martin Odegaard return to join Martin Zubimendi.

Arsenal’s starting XI: Raya, Timber, Gabriel, Saliba, Hincapie, Rice, Zubimendi, Odegaard, Saka, Trossard, Jesus.

Substitutes: Arrizabalaga, Mosquera, White, Lewis-Skelly, Merino, Eze, Martinelli, Madueke, Gyokeres.

The kick-off time for the match is 5.30 pm.

Osimhen’s Indiscipline Cost Nigeria The AFCON Title — Football Legend, Sunday Oliseh Blows Hot (Video)

Published

2 weeks ago

January 23, 2026

Ekwutos Blog

Former Super Eagles captain Sunday Oliseh has attributed Nigeria’s failure to clinch the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco to what he described as indiscipline on the part of Victor Osimhen, arguing that individual actions disrupted team unity at a critical stage of the tournament.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Oliseh said Osimhen’s public confrontation with teammate Ademola Lookman during Nigeria’s 4–0 Round of 16 win over Mozambique disrupted the squad’s chemistry and weakened their title chances.

During the match, Osimhen appeared to rebuke Lookman for not releasing the ball in an attacking move, an incident that drew backlash from fans who criticised the striker’s conduct as unprofessional.

Oliseh claimed the consequences were felt beyond the Mozambique fixture, insisting Lookman’s form dipped noticeably afterwards, affecting Nigeria’s attacking potency in the semifinal.

“Let’s look at the toxicity that might have cost us the AFCON title,” he said. “We are confusing talent with licence. Victor Osimhen is world-class, but talent is not a license to destroy team chemistry.”

“Look at the evidence. Since that public outburst against Ademola Lookman, one of our brightest lights, he became a shadow of himself, and we lost our bite. When you publicly diminish your teammates, you break their spirit.”

He added that Lookman had been “the most dangerous player in the tournament until that public verbal abuse broke his focus,” arguing that Nigeria lost “the psychological edge needed to win” against a disciplined Moroccan side in the semifinal.

Oliseh also criticized what he described as a fan culture that now tolerates such behavior: “What’s worse, and frankly, what’s most dangerous for our football is the fan culture that now tolerates this.”