Xavi Simons joins Tottenham as an attacking playmaker. The Dutchman arrives in London to bring creativity and quality to the attacking third.
Who is Xavi Simons?
Born in Amsterdam, Netherlands, on April 21, 2003, Xavi Simons is a Dutch striker with a market value of around €70 million. He is right-footed, stands 179 cm tall, and weighs 60 kg.
He began his football journey at Tháder Fútbol Base at the age of five. At seven, he joined FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy, where he excelled and was recognized as one of the club’s most promising talents. In 2019, he moved to PSG’s U-19 team.
Simons struggled to find his footing at PSG and left for PSV on a free transfer in 2022. At PSV, he flourished, scoring 22 goals and providing 11 assists in 48 matches. Following this success, PSG re-signed him for approximately €4 million before loaning him to RB Leipzig.
At Leipzig, he became a key player, recording 10 goals and 13 assists in his first season. His performances impressed the club enough to purchase him outright in January 2025 for around €50 million.
This season, he has maintained strong form with 11 goals and 8 assists in 33 matches. However, he reportedly requested a move to pursue new challenges, sparking a transfer battle between Chelsea and Tottenham. Tottenham ultimately secured his services for around €60 million. Let’s examine Simons’ playing style and his fit in Thomas Frank’s team.
An Organizer in Attack
Simons is a player with excellent passing, shooting, and acceleration. He is agile on the ball, capable of navigating tight spaces, and excels in executing final passes in the attacking third.
Where he needs improvement is in duels; his physique limits his effectiveness in one-on-one challenges. Additionally, his attitude can be inconsistent—he occasionally disengages when options are limited or the game becomes chaotic. Last season, he missed 15 matches due to a 70-day ankle injury, his only recorded injury. Despite this, he appears fully recovered, though monitoring his physical condition remains important.
His standout attributes include acceleration (1.05 per game) and completed passes into space (0.47). He drives attacks forward and distributes precise passes for strikers and wingers.
In Tottenham’s aggressive, counter-focused system, Simons can serve as the key orchestrator of transitions. He excels in progressive actions against high or medium defensive lines and performs well against low-blocks with exceptional short-distance dribbling and accurate long-range shooting.
Dynamic Mobility
Simons’ heatmap highlights his wide-ranging mobility on the left wing. He prefers to receive the ball in deeper positions to dictate play and generate attacking opportunities.
Although primarily deployed as a left winger at Leipzig, he can also operate as an attacking midfielder or center forward, providing flexibility and freedom to create and execute direct attacking passes.
Transfer and Contract Figures
Tottenham finalized Simons’ transfer for a fixed fee of €60 million. He has signed a contract until 2030, with an option to extend for up to two more years.
At Leipzig, he earned approximately €10 million per year. His salary at Spurs is expected to be similar, making him one of the club’s highest-paid players.
Fit in Thomas Frank’s System
In the early Premier League matches, Tottenham has won both of its opening fixtures, including a victory against Manchester City, showcasing aggressive, dynamic, and versatile play.
The arrival of Simons adds speed, creativity, and technical quality to Tottenham’s attack. He can operate as an attacking midfielder or left winger (the latter already occupied by Brennan Johnson) in a 4-2-3-1 formation, giving him freedom to orchestrate attacks and link with teammates effectively.
A Necessary Signing for Tottenham
Despite a strong start to the season, Tottenham needed a creative playmaker in the attacking third, particularly after James Maddison suffered a cruciate ligament injury, keeping him sidelined until mid-February.
Simons’ arrival addresses this gap, providing a vital creative outlet. He is expected to play a key role in both the Premier League and Champions League, enhancing Tottenham’s attacking fluidity and quality.