Record signing at €65 million
Xavi Simons’ challenging start at Tottenham Hotspur took a turn for the worse on Saturday, experiencing a humiliating setback. The 22-year-old was brought on early after Lucas Bergvall suffered a concussion, but manager Thomas Frank substituted him again by the 73rd minute due to an underwhelming performance. Tottenham struggled against Chelsea, achieving their lowest expected goals (xG) of all time at just 0.10, with Simons significantly contributing to their lackluster attack.
During his 66-minute stint, Simons lost possession 15 times—more than any other player on the field—and has found it difficult to adapt to Premier League expectations following his €65m transfer from RB Leipzig. As the club’s record signing on a substantial salary, concerns are mounting among Spurs fans regarding the attacking midfielder’s impact.
Xavi Simons: A Difficult Start at Tottenham
It’s important to note that Simons is still in the early stages of his Tottenham career, and players commonly need time to adjust to a new league. However, the Netherlands international’s recent performances raise concerns. While he undeniably possesses technical skill, he has struggled to cope with the physicality and fast pace of the Premier League. This was highlighted during a promising moment against Chelsea where he showed great skill before being dispossessed. Sky Sports commentator Jamie Carragher remarked, “The initial move looked fantastic, but in the Premier League, you don’t have the time to breathe with players closing in on you.”
As shown in the graphic above, Simons has recorded just one goal involvement—an assist for Pape Matar Sarr during his debut in a 3-0 victory over West Ham. Despite flashes of his potential quality, he has struggled in a Tottenham attack that often lacks creativity and fluidity. Among the fifteen attacking players who transferred for over €60 million this summer, only Newcastle’s Anthony Elanga has recorded fewer attacking contributions than Simons.
Xavi Simons: Comparing Bundesliga and Premier League Performances
The summer transfer window was notable for Premier League clubs investing heavily in talent from the Bundesliga. Simons was one of five players who transferred for fees exceeding €65 million, with varying results. Nick Woltemade and Hugo Ekitiké have shown promising performances, while Benjamin Sesko is adjusting reasonably well at Manchester United. Simons and Liverpool’s Florian Wirtz are perhaps experiencing the most challenges and share similarities in both physical attributes and playing style. Last season, Simons was the fifth most valuable player in the Bundesliga, boasting an impressive attacking output of 0.69 goals/assists per 90 minutes.
Stefan Bienkowski, UK Area Manager and host of the Gegenpressing podcast, elaborated on Simons’ reputation in Germany, asserting that he is still viewed as an exceptional talent. “Initially, Simons was regarded as a fantastic signing for RB Leipzig,” Bienkowski stated. “In his first loan season, he was one of the Bundesliga’s top playmakers, comparable to talents like Wirtz and Jamal Musiala in goals and assists. However, things shifted dramatically in his second season when Leipzig lost several star players, and Simons was left to fill those gaps. He’s an outstanding player who faced challenges in a struggling team last season, and I suspect he might be encountering similar issues at Tottenham as they await the return of more attacking assets from injury.” While it’s been a rocky start at Tottenham, Simons should be allowed time to demonstrate his capabilities, but patience is growing increasingly thin.
