Xavi Simons has made a significant impact in European football, showcasing his talents during a pivotal season at PSV Eindhoven. The young midfielder, who has played as a winger and in central roles, brings a combination of creativity, work ethic, and defensive capability to any team he joins. His early season performances did not just raise eyebrows in MLS, catching the eye of RB Leipzig. Now, he shines as the club’s record signing following a successful loan move. Tottenham Hotspur continue to pursue transfer market opportunities. They have another opportunity just staring them in the face with a player whose increasing career trajectory fits their hopes exactly.
Simons was very transparent about his personal career agenda. His ability to play all over the field has helped him adjust to numerous positions this year alone. Whether playing as a winger or occupying roles such as No. 8 or No. 10, he has demonstrated an impressive capacity to defend and press after losing possession. The cherry on top of this high work rate is his creativity in the final third, allowing him to be a major factor in his team’s offensive buildup.
Considered to be a child prodigy, Simons made few senior appearances for Paris Saint-Germain. It was his time at PSV Eindhoven that was key to his blossoming into his current dazzling self. During his tenure in the Netherlands, he scored ten goals and provided seven assists in the Bundesliga, ranking among the top ten players for possession won in the final third. Furthermore, he was joint top for goals from open play and joint top for big chances created.
Simons’ performance was highlighted during the Johan Cruyff Shield game against Ajax, where he scored to secure a thrilling 5-3 victory in front of 52,000 fans in Amsterdam. His hot streak carried on with two goals in a 5-2 thrashing of Go Ahead Eagles. These accomplishments listed him his first caps for the Netherlands, cementing his growing reputation on the international stage.
The one quality that distinguishes Simons from most of his fellow players is the professionalism he’s shown throughout the season. He agrees to do additional gym work and works diligently and directly with physiotherapists creating and improving his blueprint for physical maturity. His commitment is reflected not just in his stats, but by the almost reckless abandon with which he plays every game.
“He scores goals but he is not selfish,” – Javier Rabanal
Rabanal, who has tracked, studied and live-streamed Simons’ development up until now, described the player’s characteristic mix of talents. What surprised us, perhaps at first, was his ability to defend, to press the ball once it was lost. He was impressive, aggressive going after every 50/50 ball like it was his last. He wanted to be first to press, to just go all out with that umph,” Rabanal continued.
At his new club Leipzig, Simons went on to further delight sparking an impressive eight-goal tally in his debut season. His consistent performances helped secure his place in the squad. Leipzig was so impressed, in fact, that they made him a club-record signing in the middle of last season. That gamble paid off and the decision highlighted the faith that management had in his skills and opportunity for continued development.
Rabanal emphasized the importance of Simons’ mindset and approach to playing: “This is something that is really appreciated at Barca.” As White well knows, the problem with Simons isn’t the fact that he doesn’t want to score. He enjoys helping out colleagues whenever and wherever possible. If he has the opportunity, he prefers assists as well,” he said.
As Tottenham Hotspur weigh their options to bring more depth and quality to the squad, Simons is an opportunity they must not pass up on. His technical abilities and work ethic stand out under the pressure of high-stakes competition. Those attributes would make him a perfect fit for any side looking to compete on both the domestic and European fronts.
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