Could Yang Min-hyeok prove the next big star to emerge from South Korea and emulate his idol, Heung-min Son?
He was only a few months into his professional career when Tottenham parted with £3.5 million to pluck him from Gangwon FC in July 2024. He returned to Gangwon on loan to play out the rest of the year with the K-League club, before beginning his career in England in 2025.
So, how’s it gone so far? And what does the future hold for Yang?
How did Tottenham spot Yang Min-hyeok?
In 2022, Yang joined Gangneung Jeil High School and started to play for the school’s football club, which serves as the academy for Gangwon FC.
Before Yang had even graduated high school, he was promoted to the senior squad, with Gangwon having seen enough to make them confident that he could perform at the highest level of football in the country, and they were not wrong.
The pacy winger made his K-League debut for the club at the start of 2024, aged just 17, and within just a few months, it was clear to everyone that they were watching a special talent.
Yang’s first season of professional football
Yang’s first taste of professional football came in the K-League and the youngster immediately stood out as one of the best players in the country.
He ended his first season in the K-League with 12 goals and six assists. along the way, he won the K League Player of the Month award in July 2024 – becoming the youngest player to ever win such an accolade – and was also on the list of three nominees for the K League 1 Most Valuable Player award.
Yang did still receive the Young Player of the Year award.
Unsurprisingly, a call-up to the South Korean national team soon followed, with Yang bypassing several steps by going from the Under-17s straight to the Taegeuk Warriors set-up.
Yang’s journey in England so far
Signing a six-year contract with Tottenham, Yang made the journey to N17 in December 2024. He spent time learning English at the club’s training ground.
Quickly, he was loaned to Queens Park Rangers in January 2025 for the rest of the season. There, he made 14 appearances and scored two goals – his first coming in a 3-1 defeat at Stoke, the second in a 3-1 win at Oxford.
Another loan followed for the 2025/26 season, with Yang joining Portsmouth, once more in the Championship.
It was a slow start to life where, after coming on as a substitute in the 1-0 opening day triumph over Oxford, he was consigned to a watching brief from the bench for the next few games.
He came back into the team for the trip to Ipswich, before scoring in back-to-back games against Watford and Middlesbrough – the latter he scored the only goal of the game in a 1-0 win.
Tottenham recalled him in January and sent him back out on loan to promotion chasing Coventry. Yang struggled immensely for game time, playing just 29 minutes, unable to force his way into the team.
He didn’t feature in the matchday squad from February onwards, meaning another loan spell is surely what awaits for the 2026/27 season.
Who is Yang Min-Hyeok? Best position and his best attributes
Yang is an old-fashioned wide player who likes to get his head down and attack spaces, playing primarily on the right despite being right-footed.
He usually prefers beating players on the outside but can change it up by cutting in as well, not being shy of taking players on.
Yang is pacy and is blessed with quick feet, which he uses to get away from players, and unlike some other touchline wingers, he tends to have a picture of what is around him, with the timing and his choice of passes usually being good.
The South Korean is also a natural goalscorer, being skilled at timing his runs in behind the opposition backline. While his favoured finish is to blast it across the goalkeeper from the right into the bottom corner, he has also scored several goals by smashing it into the roof of the net at the near post.
Given the teenager’s ball-striking ability and a tendency to be at the right place at the right time, one can potentially see him evolving into a striker in the future.
Yang is also blessed with a fantastic engine, which should make him a good fit for Tottenham’s high-pressing, high-intensity style of play.
Yang’s personal information and his contract at Spurs
Yang was born in Gwangju, South Korea, on 16 April 2006. He stands at 1.76 meters and weighs 62 kg.
He signed a six-year contract with Tottenham in the summer of 2024, with his deal set to run until the summer of 2030.
Yang’s accolades and achievements
The winger has played for the South Korean national under-17 team at the AFC U-17 Asian Cup and the FIFA U-17 World Cup.
He was the runner-up in the AFC U-17 Asian Cup and won the K-League Young Player of the Month award four times in his only season to go with his Player of the Month award in April.
Yang was also selected for the K-League All-Star side which took part in the Coupang Play Series in 2024, featuring against Spurs and Bayern Munich.
As already stated, the teenager rounded off an impressive campaign by also being named K-League Young Player of the Year and also being selected in the K-League Best XI 2024.
Yang wants to emulate his idol Son
As you would expect, it appears Son has taken Yang under his wing, with the Tottenham newcomer admitting that he spoke to his idol about life in the Premier League before arriving.
The winger insisted that he wants to emulate the Spurs captain’s success at the North London club.
Yang said just ahead of his move to the Lilywhites: “I want to be like Son Heung-min at Tottenham. I especially want to emulate his shooting and finishing skills.
“He also told me that playing in the EPL is by no means easy. Adjusting to a culture that’s different from Korea after moving to London, England is crucial. I want to adapt to Tottenham quickly and play in matches as soon as possible.”
Yang is determined to succeed in the Premier League
The South Korean is certainly not arriving at Spurs to just make up the numbers, admitting that he is desperate to be successful in his new adventure in England.
He said before linking up with the Tottenham squad: “My first goal is to survive in the Premier League for a long time. I would be ashamed of myself if I came back to the K League quickly. I plan to improve my physical condition as much as possible and work hard to adapt to the team.”