▲ Werner called Son one of his closest friends from their Tottenham days. He said Son always plays with joy and that he’s glad to see him keeping that spirit in the U.S. Son greeted Werner with a hug at their reunion. ⓒ Timo Werner SNS
By Jo Yong-un, SPOTV News — Former Tottenham teammates Son Heung-min (34, Los Angeles FC) and Timo Werner (30, San Jose Earthquakes) met Sunday as opponents in MLS. The scoreline was decisive, but the postgame display of friendship captured more attention than the result.
Marca’s English edition highlighted the reunion on April 21 (KST), noting that “Werner expressed enduring affection and respect for his former teammate Son.” The match at LAFC’s BMO Stadium ended with San Jose routing LAFC 4-1 in the 2026 MLS slate.
The outcome split the teams’ trajectories. San Jose stretched its winning streak to four and sits second in the Western Conference with 21 points, while LAFC fell to 16 points after consecutive losses, slipping further from the top pack.
Beyond the score, the big story was the reunion between Son and Werner. The two shared a dressing room at Tottenham for about two years starting in 2023, and this was their first meeting in MLS — a narrative fans and media latched onto.
▲ On the field, the match tilted toward Werner. He started on the left wing and, in 76 minutes, produced a goal and an assist to drive San Jose’s win. In the 54th minute he picked out Useni Bawda with a precise cross for the opener, then three minutes later burst from near midfield, split defenders and finished with his right foot for his first MLS goal.Son played the full 90 but couldn’t add to his attacking numbers. The home rout intensified scrutiny of his quiet night — and his scoreless start in MLS this season — leaving fans calling for a rebound.
Still, Son has been a key creator for LAFC, registering seven assists in seven MLS games this season while maintaining his unselfish style. Including cup matches, he’s totaled two goals and 11 assists in 13 appearances. While he’s creating chances consistently, the absence of goals from him has created a tense narrative around the team.
▲ The postgame tone, however, was warmer. Werner downplayed the result in favor of the reunion, saying they “joked before the game and had deeper conversations afterward. I was really happy to see him again. He was a very good friend to me at Tottenham.”Werner added that he’s glad Son has found a place where he can enjoy his football, offering genuine support for his former teammate.
Werner joined San Jose in January as a designated player (DP) exempt from the salary cap, signing through June 2028. When his move was announced, he said Son welcomed him to the U.S. as soon as he landed.
Their friendship plays out on social media as well. Werner posted a photo of them lifting a trophy at Tottenham with a message that it would be “a great time,” tagging Son, who shared and responded to the post.
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