Played in front of a passionate home crowd at the Seoul World Cup Stadium, the match ended in a 1–1 draw, but the focus was firmly on Son’s farewell. He received a guard of honour from both sets of players and was substituted in the 65th minute to a standing ovation. As chants of his name filled the stadium, Son took his place on the bench, overwhelmed by emotion.
Speaking after the match, Son said, “At first, I really didn’t think I was going to cry. But obviously, it is not easy leaving a team I’ve spent so much time with. I’ve had an unforgettable day thanks to all the fans, my teammates and my opponents. My career is not over yet, and I want to continue to bring \[the fans] joy. I know I have more things I want to accomplish as a football player.”
Son had announced his decision to leave Tottenham just a day earlier during a press conference held with manager Thomas Frank. Reflecting on his journey, he described it as the most difficult decision of his career: “I came to north London as a kid, 23 years old… I leave the club as a grown man, a very, very proud moment.” He spoke of a desire for a new challenge and expressed gratitude to the club for supporting his decision.
Since joining Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015, Son has made 454 appearances and scored 173 goals. He played a pivotal role in Tottenham’s UEFA Europa League victory in May 2025, the club’s first major trophy in 17 years. His departure marks the end of a remarkable chapter, with Son firmly cemented as one of the club’s all-time greats.
During the match, Brennan Johnson gave Spurs the lead before Newcastle’s Harvey Barnes equalised before halftime. In a concerning moment late in the game, James Maddison was stretchered off with a suspected knee injury—raising fears of a recurrence of previous issues.
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