If football ever had a definition of a perfect transfer, Son Heung-min’s switch to Los Angeles FC might be it.
In just two months, the South Korean star has become the embodiment of the ideal player-club fit — a move that came at the right moment for both Son and LAFC.
With eight goals and three assists in his first nine MLS appearances, Son has propelled LAFC into genuine MLS Cup contention. His impact has been immediate, transformative, and deeply resonant — not just in performance, but in spirit.
Towards the end of his Tottenham Hotspur stint, doubts lingered over whether the 33-year-old was showing early signs of decline or simply enduring a temporary slump. His scintillating start in Los Angeles has firmly silenced those doubts.
While MLS is often seen as a softer landing spot for aging stars, its physicality, travel demands, and unpredictability have humbled many big European names before. Yet Son has made the transition look effortless — pairing superstar appeal with consistent performances.
For LAFC, Son’s signing recalls the arrival of Carlos Vela in 2018 — another moment that defined the club’s identity.
“It’s very comparable,” said long-time LAFC broadcaster Dave Denholm, as quoted from BBC Sport. “Vela had to be incredible on and off the pitch — and he was. Son’s done the exact same thing. I didn’t think that would be possible for a long time. It’s the perfect signing.”
Just as Vela represented California’s massive Mexican community, Son now stands as a cultural icon for Los Angeles’ vibrant Korean population.
“The Korean community is probably the second-largest after the Mexican community here,” explained Trebor Tracy, founder of fan site Angels on Parade. “One of our biggest supporter groups, the Tigers, is predominantly Korean. They’ve always been part of LAFC’s culture, so when Son arrived, it meant everything. He wasn’t just a great player — he was already one of their own.”
For Korean fans in LA, Son’s signing was a unifying moment — and his performances have exceeded all expectations.
Son’s seamless adaptation has even surprised seasoned MLS observers.
Soccer broadcaster Max Bretos, who has covered arrivals from Beckham to Messi, noted: “He landed on a Tuesday, had his press conference Wednesday, and by Friday he was flying to Chicago. He came off the bench that weekend — and you could already see the spark.”
A week later, Son started on artificial turf in New England — a surface most stars avoid early on — and played the full 90 minutes with an assist to show for it. Since then, he’s played nearly every minute. “It’s unheard of,” Bretos added. “His teammates love him — it’s like he’s been part of the squad for years.”
Unlike other marquee signings who dominate the spotlight, Son has blended seamlessly into LAFC’s system rather than overshadowing it.
“If Cristiano Ronaldo came to MLS, it’d become his club,” Bretos explained. “That’s what happened with Messi in Miami. But LAFC’s identity hasn’t changed — Son’s just enhanced it. It’s a perfect marriage.”
One clear beneficiary of Son’s arrival has been Denis Bouanga. The Gabonese forward has scored 11 goals in nine matches since Son’s debut — becoming the first player in MLS history with three consecutive 20-goal seasons and tying Messi in the Golden Boot race.
Between them, Bouanga and Son have netted LAFC’s last 18 goals. With the playoffs looming, belief in a second MLS Cup title is growing stronger by the week.
Son’s arrival has also made waves off the field.
His introductory press conference garnered 200,000 YouTube views — not far off Messi’s 337,000 — while LAFC saw a staggering 594% spike in social media engagement upon his signing, reaching roughly 34 billion impressions.
Club GM John Thorrington revealed Son’s shirt quickly became the best-selling across all sports. His debut goal — a trademark curling free-kick against FC Dallas — even reignited the debate among Spurs fans who always believed he should’ve taken more set pieces.
Bretos summarized it best: “We’re seeing five or six times more engagement in everything LAFC does. The impact is enormous.”
While his global reach is undeniable, it’s the local resonance — the connection with LA’s communities, the energy in the stands, the sense of belonging — that truly defines Son’s success.
Many European stars have come to MLS chasing glamour or retirement comfort. Son Heung-min, however, seems to have found something rarer: purpose, joy, and a team that feels like home.