David Hytner 

Tottenham extend Son Heung-min’s contract to avoid free summer transfer

Tottenham have triggered the one-year option on Son Heung-min’s contract to ensure he remains tied to them until the summer of 2026
  
  

Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring for Spurs in their Carabao Cup win at home to Manchester United.
Son Heung-min celebrates after scoring for Spurs in their Carabao Cup win at home to Manchester United. Photograph: Chris Foxwell/ProSports/Shutterstock

Tottenham have triggered the one-year option on Son Heung-min’s contract to ensure he remains tied to them until the summer of 2026.

The move is in line with expectation and protects the club against Son walking out as a free agent at the end of the season or signing a pre-contract with an overseas club this month with a view to a summer Bosman transfer.

The longer-term picture remains less clear. Son will be 34 in the summer of 2026 and he and the club face complicated talks over whether to extend their partnership.

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The nightmare scenario for the chairman, Daniel Levy, would be to lose Son for no fee. If he suspects it may be a possibility, he could feel compelled to listen to offers this summer.

Son, who was appointed as the club captain in the summer of 2023, has become a global star in north London; arguably the most famous footballer in Asia.

The South Korean signed from Bayer Leverkusen in 2015 for £22m and has made 431 appearances for Spurs, putting him 11th on the club’s all-time list. He has scored 169 goals. Only Harry Kane, Jimmy Greaves, Bobby Smith and Martin Chivers have more for the club.

 

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