Tottenham Hotspur sign Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons on a long-term deal

Tottenham Hotspur confirmed the signing of Netherlands international Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. The 22-year-old attacking midfielder has agreed to a long-term deal with the club, marking their first marquee signing since the appointment of Thomas Frank as their new manager before the start of their new season.

Simons will don the No.7 shirt, taking over from Heung-min Son, who had left the club to move to LAFC in the United States of America earlier. His arrival will come as a major relief, considering they had lost their star playmaker in James Maddison, due to an ACL injury, ruling him out for most of the ongoing season.

Speaking after completing his move, Xavi said he was thrilled to join the Premier League side. “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 for the fans.”

YOUNG, BUT GOOD EXPERIENCE AT THE TOP LEVEL

Head coach Thomas Frank welcomed Simons as a major addition to the Spurs’ squad. “He is still young but already has good experience at the top level. Xavi has shown he can create and score goals, whether playing as a number 10 or from the left wing. He has a great eye for his team-mates in unlocking defences, and I know he will fit into our team that is already working hard together.”

Simons has enjoyed a remarkable journey in his career so far. After developing in the academies of Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain, he made his senior debut for PSG at 17 in a French Cup tie. His breakthrough came during his spell at PSV Eindhoven in 2022/23, where he finished as the Eredivisie’s top scorer with 19 goals and was named Talent of the Season.

PSG later re-signed him in 2023 before loaning him to RB Leipzig, where he continued to impress with 25 goal contributions across competitions. His performances earned him a place in the Bundesliga Team of the Season.

On the international stage, Simons made his senior debut at the 2022 World Cup, becoming the youngest Dutch player to feature in the knockout rounds. He was also part of the Netherlands squad that reached the semi-finals of Euro 2024 and has already collected 28 caps with five goals.