2025 Aug 12
By Josh
Former Spurs starplayer Heung-Min Son was offered a whopping $210 million from Saudi Arabian clubs. However, he rejected their bids and joined the American side of Los Angeles FC (LAFC), who offered about $42 million for four years. Many would wonder, ‘why would Son choose to reject such a tremendous offer for a less contract?’ Behind this transfer, there is a significant reason behind his choice.
First of all, the decision of MLS side LAFC to buy Son was due to multiple reasons. One of the speculated reasons is due to marketing. The transfer of a world class Asian player can bring significant marketing impact, such as merchandise sales and rise in interest to watch the team. This impact has already been seen on the club. It is already seen that Son’s uniform sales have been extremely successful. He has been the number one uniform sale in the American sport industry his first week arriving in America, and his uniforms are selling out on official websites. Also, the ticket prices have seen to be increased after the arrival of the superstar, and the tickets are expected to be sold more due to more fan engagement from Son’s appearance.
One of the reasons why Son chose the MLS side is because of the upcoming 2026 World Cup. He has directly stated that he wants to focus on the upcoming 2026 World Cup and try to have his performance as best as possible for it. This shows that the player wants to get used to the American environment, where the upcoming event is hosted. This environmental factor can impact significantly on his performance. He can get used to pitches in America that would be used in the event, where he can slightly change his playing style for the maximum performance. Also, as a captain of the Korean national team, he can tell his teammates about the environment of each stadium and the grass quality, allowing his peers to perform slightly better. Additionally, his personal goal to have a successful national team career played a role, as he would want to play his best for the World Cup, and show the people of South Korea to feel enthusiastic toward Korean soccer.
In conclusion, Son rejected a far larger Saudi offer to join LAFC because the move benefits both him and the club: LAFC gains massive marketing value from a world-class Asian star, while Son positions himself to adapt to the U.S. environment ahead of the 2026 World Cup, boosting both his own performance and his leadership for the Korean national team.
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