The name that ran through LAFC's 2025 season was without question Son Heung-min. Leaving Tottenham Hotspur midseason and joining LAFC for the highest transfer fee in Major League Soccer history, Son Heung-min quickly became the team's focal point and completely changed the course of a season.
From right after joining, Son Heung-min proved his value with results. Over about four months alternating between the league and the playoffs, he maintained top-level performances and played a decisive role in leading LAFC to the playoff stage. Although they lost to the Vancouver Whitecaps in the western conference semifinals and failed to advance to the MLS Cup final, the moments Son Heung-min left behind were not erased by the defeat.
His impact in the Vancouver match was especially intense. His comeback goal when the team trailed 0-2 and the added-time free-kick equalizer remained emblematic moments of the entire season. Although the result was a penalty shootout loss, the dramatic shift in momentum Son Heung-min created was a defining moment of LAFC's 2025 season.
Son Heung-min's influence was not confined to the field. A global star since his Premier League days, he energized the entire local community upon moving to LA. Many fans, including the Korean community living in LA, flocked to BMO Stadium, and jerseys and related merchandise bearing Son Heung-min's name brought the club huge revenue. LAFC's brand value also rose noticeably.
For that reason, LAFC placed Son Heung-min at the center of official season-review content. LAFC on the 25th (Korea time) revealed the top 10 moments of the 2025 season on its official website and mentioned Son Heung-min as many as three times. The fact that one player accounted for a large portion of the season's highlights made his presence clear.
LAFC called Son Heung-min's arrival a major turning point of the season. He made his debut only days after the signing announcement, quickly recorded his first assist and first goal, and integrated into the team. His debut goal against FC Dallas was selected as MLS goal of the year, adding symbolic significance.
The numbers are even clearer. Including the 2025 playoffs, Son Heung-min scored 12 goals and had 4 assists in 13 matches. His average time to record an attacking point was 68.9 minutes, a figure that ranked among the league's best. Since Son Heung-min joined, LAFC recorded 9 wins, 4 draws and 2 losses, becoming a distinctly different team.
The connection with Denis Bouanga was also a key element of the season. Bouanga, who had been the team's ace, saw his scoring power further revived after Son Heung-min's arrival, and the two players set new consecutive scoring records in a short period. Son Heung-min and Bouanga combined for 25 goals and 8 assists in 15 matches, establishing themselves as the league's best attacking duo.
Son Heung-min was at the center even in the season's final match against Vancouver. The season ended in defeat, but the two goals he showed in the second half left more than just an elimination. The club described that moment as sending a clear message to those who had doubted LAFC's future.
As a result, LAFC's 2025 season is divided into before and after Son Heung-min. Although they did not reach the championship, the influence Son Heung-min left was worth more than numbers.
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