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Xavi Simons was a Chelsea target at age 12 but his ‘lack of progression’ upset Lionel Messi
Xavi Simons is the same age as Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala and Pedri, but it seems like he’s been around forever. Chelsea have opened talks to sign the 22-year-old, long been touted as one of football’s next stars, talkSPORT understands. Simons has always been a talent, but now he’s cementing himself as a star at the top levelGetty The Blues are willing to pay up to £60million for the Netherlands international. Simons is expected to depart RB Leipzig this summer, and is believed to be open to testing himself in England. The ex-Dutch prodigy joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan deal in 2023, with the move made permanent in January. The German giants forked out an initial £43m for Simons, with the deal including £26m in potential add-ons. But the attacking midfielder now looks set to be on his way out just months after signing a contract until 2027. Arsenal are also keen on bringing him to the Premier League, but Chelsea are the first club to make contact with his current side. And that makes sense, considering the Blues have been trying to bring Simons to Stamford Bridge for over a decade since 2014. Simons faced the weight of expectation after exploding onto the scene at Barcelona, having honed his skills at the club’s famed La Masia academy from the age of seven. But incredibly, the affectionately dubbed ‘Golden Curls’, was spotted even earlier by Barca’s LaLiga rivals Villarreal. Simons was just three years old when his father Regillio Simons finished his playing career at Dutch team TOP Oss before the family moved to Spain from Amsterdam. He chipped in with 19 goals in the Bundesliga last campaign Simons was making waves at eight years oldGetty “[Xavi] joined the system at Villarreal,’ Simons Sr told the Mail. “They were very happy with his progress and wanted him in the academy system, but he was aged six and already playing with their Under-9s. “I thought it was too early for that. I didn’t want him playing in the Under-9s at six, so I said no. It was a week later when Barcelona called and wanted him to go for a trial.” Simons Jr. continued to excel at Barcelona, who considered him the biggest academy talent prospect since Lionel Messi. Chelsea were among the clubs who tried to poach his services when he was just 12, but his father was keen for him to stay in Spain. Regillio added: “We have spoken to Chelsea, and you know it’s going to be good money at Chelsea. Simons was the star of the Catalans’ youth teamGetty Yet he never made a senior appearance for BarcaGetty “Agents approach me to say they are working for English clubs or Spanish clubs. “It can’t touch me. I’m not someone who will be starry-eyed. “Barcelona is already a big club, and it brings him some kind of pressure, and he is handling it well. That’s good for me.” It was no surprise Simons’ family were keen for him to continue at the Nou Camp, having named the midfielder after icon Xavi Hernandez. The former Barcelona manager was a player at the club when his younger namesake had begun to generate some buzz online. And Simons once recalled the day the two crossed paths, saying: “I was with the physio when Xavi [Hernandez] came over. “When I told him that my name was also Xavi, he laughed. It was funny. He’s my idol. “I know it’s difficult, but I will do everything to make it.” Simons failed to settle alongside Messi at PSGGetty Unfortunately, Simons wasn’t to emulate him at Barcelona, and he ended up signing his first professional contract at PSG in 2019 without making his senior bow in Catalonia. He explained: “Everyone dreams of playing with Messi, but sometimes there is another way. “I decided to try another adventure – and I think that this is good for my development.” Little did Simons know, but Messi would end up following him to PSG at the Parc des Princes two years later. However, their reunion didn’t work out as planned with Messi reportedly advising his old teammate, and then-Barca boss Xavi, not to re-sign Simons in 2022. The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was said to believe the Dutchman has not progressed enough, according to El Nacional. Xavi Simons finally enjoyed a breakthrough year in his homeland for PSVGetty The hype around Simons meant he boasted two million followers on Instagram before he even made his professional debut. But after some early promise at PSG, he fell out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino and made just 11 appearances in three years. His tenure in Paris was marked by a penalty miss in a shock shootout defeat to Nice in the last 16 of the Coupe de France. And with his PSG contract coming to an end at the start of the summer, Simons decided to rebuild his career back home. The 5’7 star signed for PSV, and found the back of the net on 22 occasions during his season-long stay in the 2022/23 campaign. Within 12 months, Ligue 1 giants PSG triggered a buy-
Xavi Simons is the same age as Jude Bellingham, Jamal Musiala and Pedri, but it seems like he’s been around forever.
Chelsea have opened talks to sign the 22-year-old, long been touted as one of football’s next stars, talkSPORT understands.
The Blues are willing to pay up to £60million for the Netherlands international.
Simons is expected to depart RB Leipzig this summer, and is believed to be open to testing himself in England.
The ex-Dutch prodigy joined Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain on an initial loan deal in 2023, with the move made permanent in January.
The German giants forked out an initial £43m for Simons, with the deal including £26m in potential add-ons.
But the attacking midfielder now looks set to be on his way out just months after signing a contract until 2027.
Arsenal are also keen on bringing him to the Premier League, but Chelsea are the first club to make contact with his current side.
And that makes sense, considering the Blues have been trying to bring Simons to Stamford Bridge for over a decade since 2014.
Simons faced the weight of expectation after exploding onto the scene at Barcelona, having honed his skills at the club’s famed La Masia academy from the age of seven.
But incredibly, the affectionately dubbed ‘Golden Curls’, was spotted even earlier by Barca’s LaLiga rivals Villarreal.
Simons was just three years old when his father Regillio Simons finished his playing career at Dutch team TOP Oss before the family moved to Spain from Amsterdam.
“[Xavi] joined the system at Villarreal,’ Simons Sr told the Mail.
“They were very happy with his progress and wanted him in the academy system, but he was aged six and already playing with their Under-9s.
“I thought it was too early for that. I didn’t want him playing in the Under-9s at six, so I said no. It was a week later when Barcelona called and wanted him to go for a trial.”
Simons Jr. continued to excel at Barcelona, who considered him the biggest academy talent prospect since Lionel Messi.
Chelsea were among the clubs who tried to poach his services when he was just 12, but his father was keen for him to stay in Spain.
Regillio added: “We have spoken to Chelsea, and you know it’s going to be good money at Chelsea.
“Agents approach me to say they are working for English clubs or Spanish clubs.
“It can’t touch me. I’m not someone who will be starry-eyed.
“Barcelona is already a big club, and it brings him some kind of pressure, and he is handling it well. That’s good for me.”
It was no surprise Simons’ family were keen for him to continue at the Nou Camp, having named the midfielder after icon Xavi Hernandez.
The former Barcelona manager was a player at the club when his younger namesake had begun to generate some buzz online.
And Simons once recalled the day the two crossed paths, saying: “I was with the physio when Xavi [Hernandez] came over.
“When I told him that my name was also Xavi, he laughed. It was funny. He’s my idol.
“I know it’s difficult, but I will do everything to make it.”
Unfortunately, Simons wasn’t to emulate him at Barcelona, and he ended up signing his first professional contract at PSG in 2019 without making his senior bow in Catalonia.
He explained: “Everyone dreams of playing with Messi, but sometimes there is another way.
“I decided to try another adventure – and I think that this is good for my development.”
Little did Simons know, but Messi would end up following him to PSG at the Parc des Princes two years later.
However, their reunion didn’t work out as planned with Messi reportedly advising his old teammate, and then-Barca boss Xavi, not to re-sign Simons in 2022.
The eight-time Ballon d’Or winner was said to believe the Dutchman has not progressed enough, according to El Nacional.
The hype around Simons meant he boasted two million followers on Instagram before he even made his professional debut.
But after some early promise at PSG, he fell out of favour under Mauricio Pochettino and made just 11 appearances in three years.
His tenure in Paris was marked by a penalty miss in a shock shootout defeat to Nice in the last 16 of the Coupe de France.
And with his PSG contract coming to an end at the start of the summer, Simons decided to rebuild his career back home.
The 5’7 star signed for PSV, and found the back of the net on 22 occasions during his season-long stay in the 2022/23 campaign.
Within 12 months, Ligue 1 giants PSG triggered a buy-back clause in his contract to reverse their mistake.
His return to France proved a false dawn, as he was immediately sent to Leipzig, where he has since established himself as a major force.
Simons, who scored against England at Euro 2024, has chipped in with 21 goals for Leipzig across his two seasons in Germany.
For Chelsea, the Blues see Simons as a potential replacement for Christopher Nkunku.
The Frenchman is free to leave Stamford Bridge this summer, and if he departs, Enzo Maresca‘s side could move for Simons.
Chelsea have already signed Joao Pedro, Liam Delap and Jamie Gittens this window, but one target remains from the old ownership.
A decade on, it might finally be time for forever young Simons to lead the club’s new era…
