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SON HEUNG-MIN 'HERE TO WIN' AFTER JOINING LAFC FOR RECORD TRANSFER FEE

Son Heung-min holds an LAFC jersey during his introductory news conference with the club in Los Angeles on Wednesday. | IMAGN IMAGES / VIA REUTERS

LOS ANGELES – South Korean star Son Heung-min said he was "here to win" as Major League Soccer's Los Angeles FC welcomed the arrival of the "global icon" from Tottenham on Wednesday.

The 33-year-old will reportedly cost an MLS-record $26 million transfer fee, according to ESPN and The Athletic, after a decade in the Premier League where he became a household name.

"I'm here to win, and I will perform," he said at an introductory news conference at BMO Stadium that was packed with U.S. and South Korean media, fans and luminaries, including Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass.

He was already itching to get to work with his new teammates after watching them beat Mexican club Tigres UANL 2-1 in a Leagues Cup match on Tuesday night amid rabid support from fans energized by rumors of his signing.

"It was just, like, insane," he said. "I just wanted to run onto the pitch and show my performance."

On Saturday in his homeland, an emotional Son announced that he would be leaving Spurs, just months after ending the club's 17-year trophy drought by winning the Europa League as captain.

He is fifth on Tottenham's all-time list with 173 goals in 454 appearances.

"Sonny is a global icon and one of the most dynamic and accomplished players in world football," said John Thorrington, LAFC's co-president and general manager.

"We are proud that he has chosen Los Angeles for the next chapter of his extraordinary career."

Son said it was Thorrington who sold him on LAFC.

"If I'm honest, it was not my first choice," he said. "But first call, when I talked to John after the season finished, he just changed my mind. He changed my heart. He changed my brain. He showed me the destination where I should be."

In addition to Son's prowess on the pitch, LAFC can also expect him to be a massive draw among Los Angeles' large community of South Koreans and Korean-Americans.

His imminent arrival drew crowds to Los Angeles International Airport on Tuesday with fans waving South Korean flags and messages of support.

"He means a lot to me, just what he's been able to achieve," said Justin Huh, a 26-year-old Korean-American software developer who lives in LA's bustling Koreatown.

"Now that someone who is Korean like me is here, and he's going to have a cultural impact, I just want to be part of that wave," added Huh, who has already bought tickets to watch Son.

Huh thinks Son can have the same kind of impact that the Dodgers' Japanese superstar Shohei Ohtani has had in baseball.

Josh Lee, co-president of the Tigers Supporters Group, supporters group for LAFC based in Koreatown, said Son is a player for all fans to cherish.

"Son's arrival here is not only big for Korean people," Lee said. "Koreatown is for everyone, so Son is for everyone.

"He's one of the important players in the world," Lee continued, adding that the group's social media following was increasing and membership was rising already.

Son will replace French striker Olivier Giroud, who was sold to Lille in July, and will share a dressing room with French goalkeeper Hugo Lloris, his former teammate at Tottenham.

"He's back to my captain, so I have to say something nice about him because otherwise in the locker room he's gonna kill me," Son quipped of Lloris, adding that he was delighted to be reuniting with a teammate he called an amazing player and an amazing human being.

He said speaking with Lloris also helped him make up his mind about the move, which coincidentally will allow him to familiarize himself with life in the United States as South Korea prepares to compete in the 2026 World Cup hosted by the U.S., Mexico and Canada.

Son looked relaxed as he met the press wearing understated grey and black, and after taking questions posed for pictures with his new black and gold number seven LAFC jersey.

Los Angeles is currently sixth in the MLS Western Conference standings, 10 points behind leaders San Diego but with three games in hand.

- AFP-JIJI

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MILAN'S OLIVIER GIROUD KEEN TO JOIN LAFC THIS SUMMER - SOURCE

Olivier Giroud could become another big-name arrival in MLS. Marco Luzzani/Getty Images

 AC Milan striker Olivier Giroud is in talks with LAFC over a potential transfer this summer, with the France international keen on joining last year's MLS Cup finalists, sources have told ESPN.

While Giroud, whose contract with Milan is due to expire this summer, has also held discussions with other MLS teams, the player's preference is to join LAFC and hopes a deal can be reached, a source added.

LAFC also holds Giroud's discovery rights within MLS, meaning it has priority if he moves to the league. Any other club wishing to sign him will also have to negotiate with the Los Angeles club.

LAFC signed Giroud's former longtime France teammate Hugo Lloris ahead of the 2024 season.

Giroud, 37, is France's all-time leading scorer with 56 goals. He has spent the past three years at Milan, who he helped to the Serie A title in 2022.

He has enjoyed another stellar campaign in Italy, scoring 12 goals and adding eight assists in 26 Serie A appearances.

Giroud has previously enjoyed spells at Arsenal and Chelsea, as well as multiple French clubs.

At international level, he lifted the 2018 World Cup with France. He also represented the country at two other World Cups and three European Championships.

LAFC has reached the MLS Cup in the past two seasons, defeating the Philadelphia Union in the final in 2022 before suffering defeat to the Columbus Crew last time out.

The club has plenty of roster flexibility heading into the summer, with two designated player spots currently open.

- Julien Laurens and Jeff Carlisle

HUGO LLORIS ON HIS DEPARTURE FROM TOTTENHAM

 

LLORIS LEAVES SPURS TO JOIN MLS CLUB LAFC

Reuters

France's World Cup-winning goalkeeper Hugo Lloris has joined Major League Soccer club team Los Angeles FC from Tottenham Hotspur, both clubs said on Saturday.

The 37-year-old Lloris, whose contract with Spurs was due to expire in June, has signed a one-year deal with an option to extend for 2025 and 2026 after an 11-year stay in London.

"Thank you for your support since day one. It's been a great privilege to be one of you and one of your captains as well," Lloris said in a video posted on Spurs' social media.

"It's the end of the chapter, but you will always be in my heart. Spurs will always be a special place for me and my family. Thank you for all the memories we shared. I wish you the best."

COLUMBUS CREW BEAT LAFC 2-1 TO WIN MLS CUP FOR THIRD TIME

USA TODAY Sports 

The Columbus Crew scored first-half goals through Cucho Hernandez and Yaw Yeboah to beat holders LAFC 2-1 and win their third MLS Cup title on Saturday.

The Crew dominated possession early on and LAFC's defence succumbed when a Diego Palacios handball in the 31st minute led to a goal by MVP Hernandez, who slotted home his penalty.

The Crew doubled their lead four minutes later when Malte Amundsen made one of the best assists of the season with a long pass to Yeboah, who put the ball away to delight the rain-soaked, gold-and-black clad fans at Lower.com field.

LAFC, whose style relies on counter attacking, never got into gear in the first half and Crew keeper Patrick Schulte was not forced to make a save until close to halftime.

After the break, Carlos Vela, playing what could be his final game for LAFC, tried to capitalise on a defensive miscue but his shot went directly into the arms of Schulte.

LAFC finally responded in the 74th minute when Jesus Murillo stole the ball in the Crew's half and found an open Denis Bouanga, whose first attempt hit Schulte in the face.

The golden boot winner fired the rebound home to cut the deficit but the Crew defence held out to ensure victory on a rainy day in Central Ohio.

"Words can't describe it," said midfielder Aidan Morris.

"We've made so many sacrifices. What we do in this profession is a lot of work. It's a lot of days away from your family, it's a lot of traveling, so to have it end like this is a dream come true.

"That's what we do at this club and we'll go for it again next year."

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