Spurs captain Son announces exit after 10 years

Son Heung-Min, the captain of Tottenham Hotspur who lifted the Europa League title last season, has decided to leave the club this summer, ending his 10-year career with the Premier League side.

Son announced his decision during a pre-match press conference ahead of Tottenham's pre-season match against Newcastle United, scheduled for Sunday. "I wanted to say I have decided to leave the Club this summer. Respectfully the club is helping me with this decision," he said. 

The match against Newcastle could be his last appearance for the club, as head coach Thomas Frank has confirmed that Son will be in the squad. The game is being played in at Seoul's World Cup Stadium in South Korea, his home country, which could give him a fitting farewell in front of his home fans.

Son, who joined the club in August 2015, said it was the most difficult decision he has ever had to make. "It was the most difficult decision I have made in my career. Such amazing memories. It was so hard to make the decision," he said. 

Although Tottenham's fifth all-time leading goalscorer did not specify his next destination, he said he needed a change after spending 10 years at the club. "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," he added. 

Tottenham coach Thomas Frank hailed Son as one of the legends of the club.  "For me, personally, I would have loved to have worked with this fantastic person and player. He is a true Spurs legend in every aspect, one of the greatest players to play in the Premier League. It is never easy to find the perfect timing and me coming in from the side, it makes it a bit easier to end on a high," he told reporters. 

Son has made 454 appearances for the North London club, scoring 173 goals and providing 101 assists. He is also only the seventh player in Tottenham's history to make more than 450 appearances.

He became Spurs' first captain in 17 years to lift a major trophy, doing so with a win over Manchester United in the Europa League final held in Bilbao last May. The winger came on as a substitute in the second half of that match, likely his final major European appearance for Tottenham.