Tottenham Hotspur have completed the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig for a reported fee of £51.8 million. The 22-year-old Dutch international has signed a long-term contract with the club and will wear the number seven shirt, recently vacated by Son Heung-min. Simons' arrival is a significant boost for Spurs manager Thomas Frank, who has been looking to add an attacking midfielder to his squad.

Simons had been linked with a move to Chelsea, but Spurs moved quickly to secure his signature. Chelsea, who have other targets, never made a bid for Simons. They are reportedly focusing on a £40m deal for Manchester United winger Alejandro Garnacho.

Frank expressed his delight at the signing, saying, "I'm really pleased we have brought Xavi in - he is a great addition to the squad". He further added, "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". Frank also highlighted Simons' versatility, noting his ability to score goals and provide assists from both the No. 10 position and the left-wing.

Simons himself conveyed his excitement about joining Tottenham, stating, "I'm really happy and can't wait to get going". He added, "It's a great Club and when I met the Head Coach I knew straight away that this was the right place for me". Simons also promised to bring "flair" to the team, along with "hard work and discipline".

Simons' move to Tottenham comes after a successful spell in the Bundesliga with RB Leipzig. During the 2023/24 season, he contributed to 25 goals across all competitions and earned a place in the VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season. Prior to his time in Germany, Simons also had a productive spell at PSV Eindhoven, where he was the Eredivisie's top goalscorer with 19 goals.

Simons' versatility will provide Frank with several options in the final third. He can play as a number 10 or on the left wing, offering flexibility in attack. His arrival is particularly timely given the injury to James Maddison, who is expected to be sidelined for a significant portion of the season. Simons' ability to win back possession in the final third is another valuable asset.

Tottenham fans may have to wait until after the international break to see Simons in action. Spurs face Bournemouth on Saturday, but Simons may not be registered in time to participate in that game. Their next match is away against West Ham United on September 13.

With the addition of Xavi Simons, Tottenham have made their eighth signing of the summer transfer window. Other new arrivals include Luka Vuskovic, Kevin Danso, Mathys Tel, Kota Takai, Max McFadden, Mohammed Kudus and Joao Palhinha. Spurs have been looking for a new 'No 10' all summer, having missed out on targets such as Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze.