Dutch midfielder, Xavi Simons has joined Tottenham Hotspur in a £51.8m transfer from RB Leipzig.
Simons had been linked with a move to Chelsea all summer until Tottenham launched a late swoop for the 22 year-old with a £51.8m bid, which RB Leipzig accepted to end one of the summer’s longest transfer sagas.
Simons has signed a five-year contract at Tottenham until June 2030 with a two-year option included, which could see him stay until June 2032 if both player and club opt to activate that option but he is currently “really happy” to complete his move which will see him wear the number 7 shirt.
“I’m really happy and can’t wait to get going. I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time.
“It’s a great Club and when I met the Head Coach I knew straight away that this was the right place for me.
“I will bring flair to the team but also hard work and discipline. I want to do everything I can to win, for the team and also for the fans.”
Head Coach, Thomas Frank added “I’m really pleased we have brought Xavi in – he is a great addition to the squad.
“He is still young, however he already has good experience and, over the past few years, has played a lot of games at the top level.
“Xavi has proven his ability to get goals and assists, both from the number 10 position and left-wing. He also has a great eye for his team-mates in terms of unlocking defences, and I know he will come in and be part of a good team that is already working hard together.”
Simons began his career at CD Thader and went on to join the youth academies of Barcelona and PSG, before he made his senior breakthrough at the latter in February 2021 as a substitute for Julian Draxler in a 1-0 Coupe de France victory over Caen en-route to the title.
He went on to make 11 appearances in all competitions across his first senior spell at PSG as they won 2021-22 Ligue 1 title before he joined PSV in July 2022 for one season, which saw him produce 22 goals in 48 appearances as they won KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield that campaign.
His performances prompted PSG to trigger their buy-back clause a year later but he was instead sent straight to Germany’s RB Leipzig on loan where he only managed 10 goals in 43 appearances, but was once again loaned back to the Bundesliga club last season which he made permanent in January.
Across his two years at RB Leipzig, Simons scored 22 goals and created 24 assists in 78 appearances and was part of their 2023 DFL-Supercup title-winning squad.
Simons represents Netherlands at international level and came through Under-15, 16, 17, 19 and 21 levels to make his senior debut in a Round of 16 victory over USA at 2022 FIFA World Cup, but didn’t make an appearance in the Netherlands’ Quarter-Final exit against eventual champions – Argentina.
The now 22-year-old has since scored five goals in 28 international appearances which included the opening goal of Netherlands’ eventual UEFA Euro 2024 semi-final defeat to England.
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