Greg . 20 hours ago

Supporters collect at airport as LAFC call press conference ahead of Son unveiling

South Korean star Son Heung-min has not even been officially revealed as joining Los Angeles FC of MLS, but thrilled fans are already waiting to welcome him.

ESPN and The Athletic report that Son, who left Tottenham Hotspur last weekend, will sign with LAFC for an MLS-record transfer fee of $26 million (£19.

5m).

LAFC on Tuesday night revealed a news conference for a "major announcement" on Wednesday at 2pm local time that would seem to be the unveiling of Son.

After press reports over Son's possible arrival on Tuesday at Los Angeles International Airport, over 40 fans of Son moved to see if they could obtain an autograph, a photograph or even a glimpse of their idol.

They were unable to see Son, however, after his sendoff in South Korea a few hours earlier.

"Son is immensely important to me.

I used to wake up at five or six in the morning to watch him play in England," Jun Kwon, a 19-year-old fan, told AFP.

"He's going to change things here.

My father and I, who possessed no interest in MLS, are already won over.

"He was wearing a gold and black LAFC jersey purchased on Tuesday morning and printed with his idol's name.

In a decade with Spurs, Son scored 173 goals in 454 matches.

The winger confirmed his plans to leave Tottenham in Seoul last weekend after a final match with the Premier League club.

At LAFC, 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.