Tottenham Hotspur have triggered the option to extend captain Son Heung-min’s contract until 2026.

The 32-year-old’s existing deal had been due to expire at the end of the 2024-25 campaign, meaning he would have been free to sign a pre-contract agreement with an overseas club from this January.

However, Spurs had always maintained they intended to exercise the option to keep him at the club for a further year.

Son joined Tottenham from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2015 and has made 431 appearances — the 11th most in the club’s history — and scored 169 goals — putting him fourth in the club’s all-time top goal scorers list. He was named club captain in August 2023.

Son has made 23 appearances in all competitions this season, providing seven goals and six assists.

The South Korea international was one of four Spurs players whose contracts are set to expire at the end of the season, alongside Fraser Forster, Sergio Reguilon and Ben Davies. The Athletic reported in November Spurs intend to trigger Davies’ option to extend his deal for a further year.

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‘Son Spurs extension no surprise’

The news that Tottenham have formally extended Son Heung-min’s contract comes as no surprise. Spurs have been very open all season that it was their intention to trigger the option, which ensures that Son is contracted to the club for the 2025-26 season, his 11th at the club.

The only issue was the timing. And there is still the possibility of a new, long-term deal being agreed to keep Son at Spurs for even longer than that.

This has not been a vintage season for Son at Tottenham. He has five league goals so far and does not look as sharp as he did last year, whether playing on the left or up front.

But he is still a highly valued figure at the club, the captain, the second-longest serving player (behind Ben Davies) and Tuesday’s news just underlines his importance to the whole organisation.

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