LAFC, which signed Son Heung-min (34, LAFC), struck a big commercial success.
LAFC paid a transfer fee of about $26 million (about 39.3 billion won), one of the highest levels in MLS history, when acquiring Son Heung-min. Son Heung-min's annual salary is also $11.2 million (about 16.9 billion won), placing him among the league's top earners. Considering the commercial value Son Heung-min brings, it is well worth the investment.
In fact, LAFC's 2025 revenue increased to $158 million (about 238.6 billion won). Everything is the Son Heung-min effect. The club expects revenue to grow an additional 15%–20% this year. The current value of LAFC was estimated at $1.4 billion (about 2.1141 trillion won), the second highest among MLS clubs.
Relative to Son Heung-min's salary, LAFC gained as much as 14 times the return. By signing Son Heung-min, LAFC is generating economic effects several dozen times larger than his salary.
Korean corporations are also rushing to reach out to LAFC. Korean traditional soju is being sold at LAFC's home stadium, BMO Stadium. Paris Baguette, Wireballi, Seoul Tourism Organization, MyRealTrip, Arni Patch, and IPX, among other Korea-related companies, have formed partnerships with LAFC.
Since Son Heung-min's signing, the number of Korean viewers watching LAFC matches has more than doubled. MLS is comparing Son Heung-min's success story to that of Major League Baseball superstar Shohei Ohtani.
LAFC co-CEO Larry Freedman smiled, saying, "Son Heung-min has brought an enormous uplift in every area, not only on the field but also in sponsorships, merchandise sales and global fan expansion."
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