Tottenham's search for a "number 10" is on, with Xavi Simons tied to the job.

LONDON, FRIDAY — The long and winding search of Tottenham Hotspur for an attacking midfielder ended sweetly at the close of the transfer window. They successfully brought in Dutch national team star, Xavi Simons, who is already seasoned and experienced at the age of 22.

Tottenham has consistently faced challenges in their attempts to acquire a "number 10" player. This includes the agreement with Morgan Gibbs-White that was canceled by Nottingham Forest, Eberechi Eze who was snatched by rival team Arsenal, and Nico Paz who decided to remain at Como.

The persistent efforts of the team coached by Thomas Frank bore fruit ahead of the transfer window deadline. They officially brought in Simons from RB Leipzig for a fee of 60 million euros (approximately 1.15 trillion IDR) on Friday (29/8/2025) evening WIB. The player had been more frequently linked with Chelsea.

He's still young, but he's gained a lot of experience over the past few years. He's played a lot at the highest level.

Simons will wear the famous number seven jersey associated with the legendary player Son Heung-min. "This is a great club. When I met with the coach, I immediately knew this was the right place for me. I am very happy and cannot wait to get started," he said.

The attacking midfielder position has been Frank's primary target since his arrival at Tottenham last June. The coach requires a creative figure in the attacking line, especially after midfielder James Maddison has been confirmed to be out for a long time due to a knee injury. "The Lilywhites" are lacking in attacking creators.

"I am very pleased that we have brought in Xavi. He is a great addition. He is still young, but has a lot of good experience over the past few years. He has played extensively at the highest level," said Frank, who is accustomed to developing young players during his time at Brentford.

Simons has been active in three countries over the past five years. Starting from the French League (Paris Saint-Germain), the Dutch League (PSV Eindhoven), and most recently the German League (Leipzig). His performance has continued to improve each season, especially since moving to Leipzig in 2023.

A graduate of the Barcelona academy, La Masia, has played 76 matches with Leipzig over the last two seasons. Interestingly, he has shown significant contributions in terms of end products, recording 22 goals and 24 assists across all competitions. This is what has made Chelsea so interested in him.

Tottenham is in dire need of players who can make significant contributions to the final product. They have lost Son, who transferred to Los Angeles FC, and Maddison, who is likely to be absent for the entire season. Both players contributed a total of 23 goals and 23 assists last season.

In Leipzig, Simons played as a left attacking midfielder in a 4-2-2-2 formation. He typically creates attacks in the central area, but those movements start from the wing. With his proficient dribbling skills, Simons can also perform as a winger.

Simons' presence in the middle and left flank will be crucial for "The White Lily." So far, according to The Analyst, Tottenham have relied too heavily on attacks from the right flank, led by winger Mohammed Kudus. As many as 58 percent of their attacks in the first two weeks have come from that side.

Attacks from the left and central areas contributed only 21 percent each to Tottenham's chance creation. Specifically in the central area, this percentage is the lowest in the English Premier League. This indicates a reliance on Kudus and the need to diversify the attack.

A player can shine in the right system, and conversely, the opposite is also true. Simons is a profile that fits perfectly into Frank's system. There is a reason why the coach is targeting Eze and Gibbs-White. He desires an orchestrator figure in the transition of counterattacks.

Leipzig is a team that heavily relies on transitions. The key to their attack is Simons, who is skilled in dribbling, passing, and making decisions in crucial moments. It is evident that six out of seven of Simons' assists in the German League last season were produced through counter-attack situations.

Frank assessed that Simons is the perfect figure to meet his needs. "Xavi has proven his quality with the number of goals and assists, both from the 'number 10' position and the left wing. He has a great eye for finding his teammates to break down defenses," he stated.

The most complex issue for many young players coming to England is adaptation. Simons, who has experience moving between countries, will certainly not find it too difficult to adjust. The only doubt is the player's physique, which appears thin and lacking substance, far from the standards of Premier League players. (AP/REUTERS)