Everything You Wanted to Know About Xavi Simons

Biography

Xavi Quentin Shay Simons is an attacking midfielder and winger who plays for Tottenham and the Netherlands national team.

He began playing football in Spain, where his family moved when he was three years old — to a village near Alicante. He played for local club CD Thader before joining Barcelona’s academy, La Masia, in 2010. He was considered one of the brightest talents of his generation, attracting the attention of European clubs at an early age, and in 2017 joined the agency circle of Mino Raiola.

In July 2019, he left Barcelona and signed a three-year contract with Paris Saint-Germain. Initially playing for the U19 team, he made his professional debut for the first team in February 2021 in the Coupe de France. In the 2021–22 season, he won the Coupe de France and Ligue 1 with PSG.

In the summer of 2022, he joined PSV, signing a five-year contract. In his debut season, he became one of the team’s leaders: winning the Johan Cruyff Shield, the KNVB Cup, and sharing the Eredivisie top scorer title (19 goals). Across all competitions, he scored 22 goals and provided 12 assists.

In July 2023, PSG activated the buy-back clause (€6 million) and signed him to a new contract before immediately loaning him to RB Leipzig. In Germany, he had two outstanding seasons:

Season 2023–24

8 goals and 11 assists in the Bundesliga, reaching the Round of 16 in the UEFA Champions League.

Season 2024–25

Despite suffering an injury in the autumn, he scored his first Bundesliga brace and became a key player for the team.

In January 2025, RB Leipzig signed him permanently for €50 million plus bonuses (a club record). In the summer of 2025, after the club failed to qualify for the Champions League, Simons decided to leave.

On 29 August 2025, he joined Tottenham for approximately £51.8 million. He made his debut with an assist against West Ham, scored his first goal for the club in December, and also found the net in the Champions League.

He made his debut for the Netherlands national team at the 2022 World Cup (becoming the youngest Dutch player to feature in a World Cup knockout match). At Euro 2024, he scored in the semi-final against England, although the team lost 1–2.

Personal Life

Simons was born into a football family. His father is former professional footballer Regillio Simons, of Surinamese descent. His older brother, Faustino, also played football; they share the same birthday.

He lived in Spain as a child and therefore speaks Spanish fluently in addition to Dutch.

Contracts and Partnerships

From an early age, he worked with major sports brands: he signed his first endorsement deal with Nike at the age of 13. Later, he collaborated with Adidas, and since 2023 has been partnered with Puma.

Agency Representation

After the death of Mino Raiola, his agent became Rafaela Pimenta, and in 2023 he switched representation to Darren Dein.

Media Presence

From a young age, he built a massive social media following — already counting millions of subscribers in his teenage years, making him one of the most media-visible players of his generation.

Interesting Facts

• He was one of the most popular teenage footballers in the world even before making his professional debut — thanks to social media and his status as a “La Masia star.”
• At the 2022 World Cup, he became the youngest Dutch player to appear in the tournament’s knockout stage.
• In the Champions League with Leipzig, he became the youngest Dutch player since Arjen Robben to both score and provide an assist in a single match of the competition.
• His only season at PSV became his breakthrough — 22 goals and 12 assists across all competitions.
• His transfer from PSG to Leipzig became a record deal for the German club.
• His move to Tottenham was high-profile due to strong interest from Chelsea — Simons consciously chose Spurs.
• He possesses high versatility: he can play as a number 10, an inverted winger, and a central midfielder in a playmaker role.