Tottenham Hotspur announced on its official website on Friday that the club has signed RB Leipzig's Netherlands international attacking midfielder wonderkid Xavi Simons.

According to a Spurs' official statement, Simons has signed on a long-term five deal with the club which runs until the summer of 2030, with an option to extend for another two years. He will also wear the number 7 jersey, which was vacated following the departure of the club's legendary captain, South Korean international forward Son Heung-min.

According to Sky Sports' renowned Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano, Simons had been in discussions with Chelsea all summer about a possible transfer, and the two sides had even agreed on personal terms in advance.

However, Chelsea's delays in negotiations with Leipzig ultimately allowed Tottenham to swoop in in the early hours of Friday morning local time and successfully reached an agreement with Leipzig and the wonderkid within 24 hours.

Spurs will pay an initial fee of €60 million to Leipzig to sign Simons, not including add-ons of up to €25 million, bringing the potential total transfer fee to €85 million.

Simons' arrival also makes up for their disappointment in losing Eberechi Eze to Arsenal when they were trying to sign him from Crystal Palace.

After completing his joining procedures, Simons, who was interviwed by the Tottenham Hotspur official website for the first time, said, "I'm really happy! I'm also very happy for my family; we've dreamed of this moment for a long time. They've been with me throughout my career, so it's very special to be here with them and share this joy."

"First and foremost, the project was a great fit for me. Second, the coach was the most important thing for me. I spoke with him, and he showed me a presentation that really impressed me, and that was the final decision for me. We've found the right coach, the right person, and I'm confident we'll achieve great results."

"Of course, we talked about football, his vision for the team, and how he sees me playing within it. Secondly, I felt really, really connected with him. I think that connection you build with someone, and that connection you need from the start, is really important. After meeting him, I said to my family, 'Great, this is it!'"

"I would say I'm a very disciplined person, and of course I have the skills and talent. I just want to work hard and win; that's my main goal, and I'll also give everything for the fans."

"I watched some clips of the players and fans, and it gave me goosebumps. I can't wait for the start playing."

"I've heard so much about the Premier League, so I want to see it for myself and feel it. I think the atmosphere in the Premier League is the best in the world, and the fans play a huge role in it. I'm ready to get on the pitch!"

About Xavi Simons

Simons, now only 21 years old, was born on April 21, 2003 in Amsterdam, the capital of the Netherlands. He is 1.79 meters tall and primarily plays as an attacking midfielder. He can also play as a left winger or a right winger. He has dual nationalities of the Netherlands and Suriname. His father Regillio is Fortuna Sittard's former legendary stiker; his brother Faustino plays for a Dutch non-league club.

Simons played for the youth academy of Spanish non-league club Club Deportivo Thader when he was a child. In 2010, he joined Barcelona's famous La Masia youth academy. During this spell, he attracted the attention of Chelsea with his outstanding performances.

In July 2019, Simons joined the Paris Saint-Germain youth academy and completed his Paris Saint-Germain first-team debut by coming on as a substitute in a Coupe de France match in February 2021.

During his time with Les Parisiens, Simons won the Ligue 1 once and the Coupe de France once with the club.

In July 2022, Simons joined PSV Eindhoven as a free agent.

During his time with the Lampen, Simons won the KNVB Cup once and the Johan Cruyff Shield (Dutch Super Cup) once with the club.

In July of the following year, Simons returned to Paris Saint-Germain for €6 million, but was immediately loaned-out to RB Leipzig for 2 years.

On  this year's winter transfer window deadline day, Leipzig officially bought out Simons' ownership for €81 million.

During his two-year spell at Leipzig, Simons has played 78 times for the Bundesliga powerhouse in all competitions, scoring 22 goals, assisting 24 times, and winning the DFL-Super Cup once with the club.