Son Heung-min’s imminent arrival at LAFC ignites fan frenzy

The anticipated arrival of South Korean football sensation, Son Heung-min, at Los Angeles FC of Major League Soccer (MLS) has already ignited a fervent fan frenzy, despite no official announcement from the club.

Reports from ESPN and The Athletic indicate that Son, who departed Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, is poised to sign with LAFC for an MLS-record transfer fee of $26 million.

Adding to the speculation, LAFC on Tuesday night announced a news conference for a “major announcement” scheduled for Wednesday at 2 pm local time (2100 GMT), widely believed to be the official unveiling of the highly anticipated signing.

The buzz reached a fever pitch on Tuesday, as press reports of Son’s possible arrival at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) prompted approximately 40 eager fans to gather, hoping to catch a glimpse, an autograph, or a photograph of their idol.

However, they were unable to see Son, who had had his sendoff in South Korea just hours earlier.

ALSO READ : Naira dips despite strong capital inflows, market optimism as Dollar remains subdued globally

“Son is immensely important to me. I used to wake up at five or six in the morning to watch him play in England,” Jun Kwon, a 19-year-old fan, told AFP, expressing the depth of his admiration.

“He’s going to change things here. My father and I, who had no interest in MLS, are already won over.”

Kwon was seen sporting a gold and black LAFC jersey, purchased that very Tuesday morning and emblazoned with his idol’s name.

Son Heung-min spent a decade with Tottenham Hotspur, where he became a club legend, scoring 173 goals in 454 matches.

The dynamic winger confirmed his plans to leave the Premier League club in Seoul last weekend after his final match.

At LAFC, Son is expected to fill the void left by French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July.

He will also reunite with his former Tottenham teammate, French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, in the LAFC dressing room, setting the stage for an exciting new chapter in MLS.