Tottenham complete £51.8m signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig

Tottenham have secured the signing of Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £51.8m (€60m), Sport360NG reports.

The 22-year-old, who had attracted interest from several top European clubs this summer, described the move as the fulfilment of “a long-time dream” after passing his medical and finalising a long-term contract.

Simons arrives with an impressive record, registering 22 goals and 24 assists in 78 appearances for Leipzig since initially joining on loan from Paris Saint-Germain in 2023 before making the switch permanent earlier this year. On the international stage, he has scored five times in 28 games for the Netherlands, having made his debut at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

“I’m really happy and can’t wait to get started,” Simons said. “This is a great club, and when I met the manager I immediately knew this was the right place for me.”

Spurs head coach Thomas Frank praised his new signing, calling him “a great addition” who already brings valuable experience despite his age. Simons becomes Tottenham’s third major summer recruit after Joao Palhinha and Mohammed Kudus.

Chelsea had also been in discussions with Leipzig about Simons earlier in the window, but instead are closing in on a £40m deal for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho. Spurs, meanwhile, had failed in bids for Nottingham Forest’s Morgan Gibbs-White and saw another key target, Eberechi Eze, opt to join Arsenal from Crystal Palace.

Where will Simons fit in?

Frank’s tactical flexibility means Simons could feature in different roles, but the Dutchman is most effective on the left of a front three, cutting inside onto his stronger right foot. He spent the majority of last season operating from the left in the Bundesliga, though he can also play centrally or on the right.

Leipzig often used him in deeper roles within compact midfield systems, meaning a period of adaptation may be required in north London. Still, his creativity, ball-carrying ability and defensive work rate make him well-suited to Frank’s high-intensity approach.

Former Premier League coach Edu Rubio believes Simons’ blend of vision and dribbling will quickly make him a standout. “He has the ability to break lines with passes or runs, he contributes goals, and he’s committed defensively. He may need time to adjust to the physical side of the Premier League, but he’s a very exciting modern attacker,” Rubio said.

Spurs’ new creator?

Statistically, Simons offers the creativity Spurs have been searching for. Last season he recorded 11 goals and eight assists in all competitions, despite missing 15 matches through injury. He also averaged more than seven passes into the box per game and created 2.2 chances per 90 minutes, figures that surpassed those of Gibbs-White and Eze.

From La Masia to London

Born in Amsterdam and named after Barcelona legend Xavi Hernández, Simons came through Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy before moving to PSG in 2019. He later impressed during a loan spell at PSV Eindhoven before building his reputation in Germany with Leipzig.

His potential was clear from an early age: by 14 he had over a million Instagram followers, a Nike sponsorship and had appeared in adverts alongside Neymar and Ronaldinho. Yet it wasn’t until his move away from PSG that he found regular senior football.

Now, after emerging as one of Europe’s brightest young talents, Simons takes on a new challenge in the Premier League as Tottenham look to build under Frank.