Tottenham Beat Chelsea to £51.8m Signing of Xavi Simons

Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Dutch midfielder Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig in a deal worth £51.8 million, edging out rivals Chelsea in one of the summer’s most closely watched transfer battles.

The 22-year-old attacking midfielder, widely regarded as one of Europe’s brightest young talents, signed a five-year contract with the option of a two-year extension that could keep him at the club until 2032. He has been handed the No. 7 shirt, a number steeped in Spurs history.

For manager Thomas Frank, the deal represents a major coup. Tottenham had been in desperate need of midfield reinforcements after injuries sidelined key players like James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski.

The club had earlier seen moves for Eberechi Eze and Morgan Gibbs-White fall through, making the capture of Simons all the more significant.

Frank described Simons as a “versatile and fearless player” capable of operating both as a central creator and on the left wing. “He brings flair, goals, and work ethic,” the coach said. “He fits perfectly into the kind of dynamic, attacking football we want to play.”

Speaking after sealing the deal, Simons expressed his excitement at joining Spurs.

“This is a dream come true. When I spoke with the coach, I felt instantly that this was the right place for me. Tottenham called and I answered,” he said, in a thinly veiled reference to Chelsea’s failed pursuit.

Chelsea had held talks with Simons earlier this summer and were understood to have agreed personal terms. However, the club never submitted a formal bid to Leipzig, their attention divided by deals for Manchester United’s Alejandro Garnacho and Barcelona’s Fermin López. Spurs acted swiftly, finalising terms and securing the Dutchman’s signature.

The transfer also includes a sell-on clause for Leipzig, who will benefit financially if Tottenham were to sell Simons in the future.

Simons, who enjoyed a standout season in the Bundesliga last year, will now be tasked with injecting creativity and attacking spark into Spurs’ midfield as they aim to strengthen their Premier League title challenge. His arrival is seen as both a short-term solution to injury troubles and a long-term investment in the club’s attacking philosophy.

With Chelsea missing out and Tottenham celebrating, the signing underlines the north London club’s growing ambition under Frank’s leadership and marks one of the headline moves of the summer window.