Liam Duckstein
Son Heung-min: the perfect signing that transformed LAFC
When Son Heung-min left Tottenham Hotspur for Los Angeles FC in August 2025, questions lingered about whether a 33-year-old forward could still carry a team. Two months in, those doubts have been silenced.
Son has scored eight goals and provided three assists in his first nine appearances for LAFC, and his arrival has pushed the club into serious conversation as an MLS Cup contender. The forward’s immediate form has convinced fans and commentators that any late-career dip was temporary.
Fit, form and the wider effect
MLS can be a tricky destination for stars leaving Europe. Some arrivals lift a team, others do not adapt. Son has combined headline-grabbing performances with a seamless fit into LAFC’s style — a rare win for both player and club.
His presence has also coincided with a purple patch for team-mate Denis Bouanga. Since Son’s arrival, the Gabon forward has scored 11 goals in nine games, becoming the first player with three straight 20-goal MLS seasons. Bouanga now sits level with Lionel Messi atop the 2025 Golden Boot race. Between them, Son and Bouanga have accounted for LAFC’s past 18 goals.
Community ties and immediate impact
Son has cultural resonance in Los Angeles. Trebor Tracy, owner of LAFC fansite Angels on Parade, says the city’s Korean community is “a close second to the Mexican community” and that many supporters were already behind the signing before he kicked a ball for the club.
“One of the big supporters’ groups [the Tigers] is a majority Korean supporters’ group, and they’ve always been a big part of the culture being built here for LAFC. So when we did sign Son, it was a big moment for them,” Tracy said. “It was that mix of a really good player who also already had the hearts of the community on arriving.”
Long-time LAFC commentator Dave Denholm compared Son to the club’s previous flagship signing, Carlos Vela.
“Vela had to be incredible, both on and off the pitch, and he was. Son has done the exact same thing, which I didn’t think was going to be possible for a very long time for LAFC. It was the perfect signing.”
Broadcaster Max Bretos has watched many headline arrivals in MLS, from David Beckham to Messi. He highlighted how quickly Son was integrated: the forward landed on a Tuesday, held his introductory press conference on Wednesday and by Friday was travelling to Chicago to make his debut off the bench.
“He’s played every game, and he’s played almost every minute of every game. This is unheard of. He was on the field immediately, and you can see the reaction of his team-mates — they loved him. It’s like he’d already been there for months,” Bretos said.
Commercial ripple
Son’s arrival has driven a major spike in attention. LAFC reported about 34 billion views across social channels when he arrived in August 2025, a 594% increase. His introductory press conference has about 200,000 views on YouTube; Messi’s drew 337,000. Club general manager John Thorrington said Son’s shirt became the highest-selling across all sports.
On the pitch there have been eye-catching moments too — his first LAFC goal was a free-kick against FC Dallas, a strike that reminded some Spurs fans of what they wanted to see more of during his time in north London.
Big names have come to MLS and not always landed. For now, Son looks different: a global star who has boosted results, strengthened a local connection and preserved LAFC’s team identity rather than eclipsing it.