After failed pursuits of Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze earlier in the summer, Tottenham were under pressure to land a high-quality number ten. They ultimately pulled off a coup, securing Xavi Simons for £51m—a fee that looks like a bargain given his reputation as one of Europe’s brightest young attacking midfielders. However, with a seven-year deal worth £200,000 per week, the overall package is expected to cost the club around £125m.

Simons has since shed light on why he chose Spurs, admitting he was swayed by positive conversations with manager Thomas Frank and fellow Dutchman Micky van de Ven. He explained to NOS that the move simply felt right: “At PSV, after talking to Ruud van Nistelrooy, I knew that was the right place. I had that same feeling at Leipzig, and I felt it again at Spurs, especially after meeting Micky. I want to be where the best players are, because I want to be the best too.”

The midfielder also revealed that his family played a part in the decision. They visited the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before he signed, and he recalled how taken his younger sister was with the atmosphere: “My eleven-year-old sister’s reaction was amazing.”

Simons’ introduction to Spurs fans came before the Bournemouth match, where he received a warm welcome from the home support.