Xavi Simons is set to leave RB Leipzig and head to England. But a transfer to Chelsea for now appears to be off the table. Transfermarkt can confirm an initial report by Bild that Simons’ camp is currently in negotiations with Tottenham Hotspur. The Red Bulls have confirmed that the 22-year-old playmaker is currently on leave from the club to sort out his future. German broadcaster Sky claims that Chelsea remain in the race. The Blues, however, must first earn money, and whether selling Christopher Nkunku to AC Milan is enough remains to be seen.
Also, unlike Chelsea, Tottenham has now made an official offer to RB Leipzig. Transfermarkt can confirm an initial report by Sky that Tottenham have offered €70m all in to sign Simons—a deal of that size would meet Simons' market value as well as Leipzig’s evaluation of the player. If accepted, Simons would become the third most expensive player to leave Leipzig. Simons would also be the second major transfer from Leipzig to the Premier League. The Red Bulls sold Benjamin Sesko to Manchester United in a deal worth €85m, including bonuses, earlier this summer.
For Tottenham, it would be the third signing from the Bundesliga this summer. The London club has already signed João Palhinha and Mathys Tel, who was previously on loan, from Bayern Munich. Altogether, Tottenham’s transfer spending this summer is €145.6m, and the €70m would see them crack the €200m mark and see Spurs move into the top five among clubs with the most money spent this summer. On top of that, Simons would be the most expensive signing in Tottenham’s club history.
Set to beat out other clubs - What can Xavi Simons add to Tottenham
The Dutch national team player has been linked with several clubs over the last few weeks and months even. Among the clubs interested were Chelsea, which is now exploring other options, and Bayern Munich. Now Tottenham are set to win the race for Simons. But what sort of player is Simons? Trained in Barca’s La Masia academy, Simons joined PSG’s academy in 2019. But his big breakthrough came at PSV Eindhoven in his native Netherlands, where he scored 19 goals and eight assists in the 2022/23 season. PSV had signed Simons on a free transfer from PSG in a deal that included a €4m buyback option, which was exercised in the summer of 2023.
Rather than returning to PSG, though, Leipzig loaned Simons that summer. That loan was extended the following season with an option to buy worth €50m, which Leipzig exercised last summer. The €50m deal also allows PSG to participate in any potential future transfer. Even then, Leipzig are set to make money on the deal. But in Simons, the club will lose quality on the pitch. A classic playmaker who, when needed, can also play on the wing, Simons has scored 22 goals and provided 24 assists in 78 games across all competitions for Leipzig. An elegant player, who can make the players around him better when on form, his biggest shortcoming can be his attitude. When off, Simons disappears at times, and his dressing room behaviour has also caused some consternation in Leipzig. Nonetheless, when on his game, Xavi Simons can be world-class, and if Thomas Frank can keep him disciplined, the Dutchman will be a star in the Premier League.