Xavi Simons was linked with big money moves at the age of 12, signed a boot deal with Nike at the age of 13, and had a massive social media following throughout his adolescence – but he is finally living up to that hype.
Paris Saint-Germain’s decision to exercise the reported €6 million buy-back clause in Simons’ PSV Eindhoven contract was possibly the simplest they had to make all summer.
The Dutchman’s struggles for minutes at Parc des Princes prompted his transfer to PSV. However, when he returned, there were similar doubts about his ability to immediately break into Luis Enrique’s starting XI.
This resulted in a loan move to RB Leipzig this season, where he has a WhoScored rating of 7.46, making him one of the highest rated players in Europe’s top five leagues, only surpassed by PSG’s Kylian Mbappe.
Simons is now a well-known international, and his outstanding performances in a competitive league demonstrate that he is ready to be a key player for an elite team.
How much is Xavi Simons worth in terms of transfer value?
Simons has a current market value of €26.9 million, according to FootballTransfer’s player valuation model.
The reigning French champions will hope to integrate him into their team next season, but Simons has refused to commit to PSG in the long term, preferring to keep his options open.
“I already feel at home and enjoy my time in Leipzig, but nothing can be predicted in football.” Nobody knows what will happen in a few months.”
This statement is certain to pique the interest of many top European clubs, resulting in a summer transfer battle.
What does the data say about Xavi Simons’ strengths and weaknesses?
Simons is in the best possible loan situation at RB Leipzig, and the club is providing him with the ideal platform to improve his game.
The La Masia graduate has settled in quickly, and no player in Europe’s top five leagues has more league assists than him. This equates to 0.73 assists from just 1.67 key passes per 90, demonstrating a
The 20-year-old was primarily used in midfield or as a traditional number 10 at PSV. Despite being shifted out to the left wing, he became the focal point of their attack after the departures of Cody Gakpo and Noni Madueke.
Simons’ versatility and exceptional technical abilities allow him freedom on the field and allow him to make an impact in any role that his manager assigns to him.
We’re seeing similar signs in Leipzig. He usually starts on the wing, but he frequently drops deeper or into the half spaces to receive the ball and play a perfectly weighted pass to a teammate. With 0.94 through balls per 90 minutes, he ranks among the top 6% of Bundesliga wingers.
Despite being comfortable in deeper areas, Simons is best deployed in advanced positions where his composure and finishing in tight spaces makes him an effective box threat. His six goals in all competitions including two in the Champions League is a testament to this.
In his last two seasons, the Dutch international has also outperformed his xG by some margin, and his Post Shot xG figure being higher than his xG demonstrates his ability to get goals purely on the basis of his finishing.
On the pitch, Simons is constantly scanning his surroundings, and appears to always know what to do when he receives the ball. This puts him a step ahead of his opponents, and his explosive pace and quick change of direction further allows him to either get past an opponent, or be fouled. His 4.19 carries into the final third P90 is another league leading figure.
Defensively, the Leipzig number 20 is not physically imposing but has a great engine and work rate, which he uses to press the opposition to win back the ball.
In a market where top clubs are clamouring to sign and retain the best talents, PSG already have a generational talent on their hands. And Simons is displaying all the ingredients to be the face of a new era at the club.
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