From La Masia prodigy to the Premier League, Xavi Simons (£7.0m) has signed for Tottenham Hotspur.
The 22-year-old has been brought in to replace the injured James Maddison‘s (£6.9m) creativity in the Spurs attack.
We assess the Fantasy Premier League (FPL) appeal of the young Dutchman following his move to North London.
THE MOVE IN QUOTES
“First of all, the project suited me. The second most important thing for me is the coach. I spoke to him, he showed me a presentation that really impacted me and that was the final decision for me. It’s the right coach, the right people and I believe that we will achieve really good things.” – Xavi Simons
“He’s a player who has proved his ability over the years to provide goals and assists from both the 10 position and the left wing, Xavi can play in both positions.” – Thomas Frank
XAVI SIMONS: A BRIEF HISTORY
| Season | Team | Starts (sub apps) | Mins | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025/26 | RB Leipzig | 1 | 90 | 0 | 0 |
| 2024/25 | RB Leipzig | 25 | 2,157 | 10 | 7 |
| 2023/24 | RB Leipzig | 32 | 2,675 | 8 | 11 |
| 2022/23 | PSV | 34 | 2,820 | 19 | 8 |
| 2021/22 | PSG | 1 (5) | 127 | 0 | 0 |
| 2020/21 | PSG | 0 (1) | 1 | 0 | 0 |
Born in Amsterdam in 2003, Xavi Simons began his football journey at CD Tháder before joining Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy in 2010, where he quickly became one of their standout prospects. His talent and flair gained him early recognition and a huge social media following, long before his professional debut.
In 2019, after failing to agree a new contract with Barça, he moved to PSG. He debuted in 2021 at just 17, winning the French Cup that year and Ligue 1 the next, though he made only 11 senior appearances. Training alongside stars like Kylian Mbappé and Neymar, he was praised for his attitude and ability.
Seeking more game time, Simons joined PSV in 2022 under Ruud van Nistelrooy. It proved his breakout season – 22 goals, 11 assists, top scorer honours, and two domestic trophies (KNVB Cup and Johan Cruyff Shield). PSG immediately triggered his buy-back clause but loaned him to RB Leipzig, where across two seasons he played 78 times, scoring 22 goals and providing 24 assists, while winning the German Super Cup.
On the international stage, Simons debuted for the Netherlands at the 2022 World Cup. He featured throughout the Euro 2024 qualifiers and finals, registering three assists and scoring a stunning goal against England in the semi-final.
PLAYING STYLE
Xavi has been credited with being a very versatile player, operating mainly as a left-sided attacking midfielder, but has been seen to fill deeper or even second-striker roles.
These graphics, courtesy of transfermarkt.com, show his positional versatility:
His technical ability and vision are his most impressive attributes; he works well in tight areas – flair-filled dribbles, intricate passes, decisive through-balls, and smart link-up play are hallmarks.
Notably dynamic in attack, in the 2022/23 Eredivisie season, he led the league – and matched elite European players – in goals and assists following ball carries, showcasing his transition threat.
Simons, meanwhile, had one of the better minutes per key pass averages (42.3 mins) in the Bundesliga in 2024/25, only narrowly behind Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz (£8.4m, 41.4 mins). For context, Maddison’s rate in the Premier League was 45.0.
The Dutchman also racked up 50 shots in 25 Bundesliga outings, with 24 of those efforts outside the box.
He is also very capable of supporting in defence and has a high work-rate, allowing him to press intensely, something new manager Thomas Frank will be very happy about.
His low centre of gravity and agility give him superb balance and mastery in one-on-ones, though his slender frame will make adapting to the physicality of the Premier League a challenge.
He adjusts seamlessly into various attacking configurations and movements, but sometimes shows positional predictability – especially favouring his right foot and cutting inside, limiting unpredictability from wide positions.
Despite this, he will likely play a crucial role in Tottenham’s season, especially until Maddison is fit again.
His experience and maturity at such a young age is notable, having played for some of the biggest teams in Europe already, winning trophies and playing Champions League football is all very impressive.
“He is still young, however, he already has good experience and, over the past few years, has played a lot of games at the top level.” – Thomas Frank
WHERE DOES SIMONS FIT IN AT SPURS?
Frank’s tactics are markedly pragmatic and adaptable – often switching between 4-3-3 (in easier tests) and 3-5-2 (against the ‘big clubs’), it focuses on defensive organisation, counter-attacking and some innovative set-pieces.
Last season for Brentford, however, he was almost exclusively using a 4-2-3-1 system, allowing creative outlet Mikel Damsgaard (£5.9m) to shine.
In most of the tactical systems Frank usually deploys, Simons will have a crucial role. Most likely, it will be on the left side of a 4-3-3, where he can cut inside on his favoured right foot.
He could also slot into the No. 10 role in a 5-3-2 and 4-2-3-1 system. With his vision, close control in tight spaces, and knack for threading decisive through balls, he has the tools to unlock stubborn defences.
With deadline-day arrival Randal Kolo-Muani joining an already talented forward line featuring Mohammed Kudus (£6.6m), Brennan Johnson (£7.1m), and Richarlison (£6.7m), Simons will have no shortage of targets for his creativity.
It would be expected to see Simons occupying the position of Maddison since a creative 10 is what Spurs will be missing most dearly, but it would also not be surprising to see him on the left-wing.
“… sometimes you need a player that can do something [clicks his fingers] a little bit out of nothing, go past the player, produce a cross, a shot, a pass, with that extra quality that you need on the day, and that’s what I think he can bring.” – Thomas Frank
IS SIMONS WORTH BUYING IN FPL?
Simons’ price reflects what you’d expect for a talented player brought in to replace a starter.
It is likely he will be included in the starting XI possibly straight away, but it is worth waiting to see first.
His quality and the fact that he fits well into the systems Thomas Frank will use is a big factor, and he could be a great pick, particularly if he takes on a prominent role at set-pieces.
Spurs return after the international break with a favourable run of fixtures starting against West Ham United (a). Xavi could feature early in that stretch, and if he fits in well, there’s every chance he becomes a regular.
Brighton and Hove Albion (a) might be his first start as a Spurs player, but Wolverhampton Wanderers (h) in Gameweek 6 could be a good entry point, given the opponent and the fact there would be home support.
