Whether it’s a stepping stone to a long-term deal or an attempt to sell, Tottenham Hotspur will not be rewarding Son Heung-min this summer.

“Tottenham are set to exercise the option to extend Son’s contract by one year,” Football Insider reported on Monday. The automatic extension clause in his current contract, which expires next summer, would keep him with Spurs until 2026 if they trigger it. Son has reportedly accepted the offer.

This summer, there were high expectations that Son would be offered a big new contract. With so little time left on his contract, the prospect of a new deal was a big one, and with his consistent performances, he could be guaranteed for a long time to come. With his 32nd birthday coming up soon, he could also be on the cusp of retiring from Tottenham depending on the length of his contract.

Son Heung-min is a legend who has been playing for Tottenham since 2015. He has been the lone holder of the Spurs organization since the departure of Harry Kane, Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen, and other key players from the club”s heyday. Since last year, he’s been wearing the captain’s armband and providing leadership, making him more than just an ace.

The living legend is building a monument at Tottenham. He joined the club in the 2023-24 season and reached the milestone of 400 appearances. Spurs have also created a special video to honor Son’s achievement. He became the 14th player in Tottenham history to reach 400 appearances, joining Hugo Llorente (447) and Kane (435) as the only players to do so in the 21st century. If Spurs exercise their option for a one-year extension, he will surpass both Joris and Kane to become the club’s most-capped player of the 21st century.

In nine seasons of consistent play, Son has scored 162 goals in 408 games. His 160th goal for Tottenham is also one of only five players in the 먹튀검증가이드 club’s long history, which began in 1882. He’s up there with Kane (280), Jimmy Greaves (266), Bobby Smith (208), and Martin Chivers (174) on the club’s all-time goalscoring list, so his importance to Spurs is significant.

Son’s departure is hard to imagine. During the break, every English media outlet was talking about Son staying. “Son Heung-min could sign a long-term contract and stay at Tottenham until he retires,” said GivingMeSports, adding that “the current rumors of a move to Fenerbahce and other clubs have zero chance of happening.” ‘Football 365’ also labeled Son as a must-have for Tottenham in the new season, saying: “He is the best player and captain of Tottenham. Keeping him is a no-brainer for Spurs.”

“Heung-min Son, who scored 17 goals and provided 10 assists at the end of the previous season, has dismissed all transfer speculation. “He will continue to be the centerpiece of the team under Ange Postecoglou,” he said.

To that end, he also dismissed all transfer speculation. He has already denied the latest rumors of a move to Fenerbahce and Saudi Arabia. His loyalty to Tottenham is strong. “It’s a special milestone to have played 400 games for Tottenham. It’s something I’m very proud of for me and my family. Of course, the result against West Ham wasn’t what we wanted, but when I look back at the moments we’ve had together, I’m really happy and proud. I am very grateful to the fans for making London my second home,” he added.

However, Tottenham chose to exercise the option to extend Son’s contract this summer instead of re-signing him. It was widely assumed that Son would be offered a new contract, including a pay raise. The Spurs seem to have taken into account the aging curve of Son, who is now firmly in his 30s.

If the deal ends with a one-year extension option that is not triggered, Son’s 10-year commitment could come to a surprisingly hollow end. If he struggles in the first half of 2026, it’s even less likely that Spurs will be able to guarantee him anything beyond that.