Tottenham Hotspur have agreed a €60 million deal with RB Leipzig for Xavi Simons, hijacking Chelsea’s pursuit of the Dutch international in dramatic fashion.
According to Fabrizio Romano, Leipzig have accepted Spurs’ official bid after the player gave the green light, with medicals expected to take place within hours.
The move comes after Simons, 22, was granted permission by Leipzig to travel to London and hold talks over his future.
Chelsea had tracked the Netherlands international all summer and were long considered frontrunners, even after Simons turned down interest from Bayern Munich.
However, the Blues’ insistence on offloading players before committing to new arrivals left the door open for Tottenham to strike.
Spurs, buoyed by their recent Europa League triumph and strong financial standing, accelerated negotiations this week and are now on the verge of securing one of Europe’s brightest attacking midfielders.
Simons’ situation escalated quickly after Leipzig’s 6-0 opening-day defeat, with the club confirming he would be released from training while discussions took place.
Leipzig only signed the midfielder permanently from Paris Saint-Germain earlier this summer for €50m plus €30m in add-ons, tying him down until 2027.
Chelsea’s latest summer business has already included an agreement with AC Milan for Christopher Nkunku and a deal for Alejandro Garnacho, while Nicolas Jackson’s future remains under review.
But with Tottenham moving decisively, the Blues now face the real prospect of missing out on a priority target.
The deal, expected to be finalized today, would make Simons one of the most expensive signings in Tottenham’s history and a major statement of intent ahead of the new campaign.
For Chelsea, this setback could shift attention towards Barcelona’s Fermín López, with talks already taking place this week. While Barça’s €60m valuation remains a sticking point, his name could rise further up the agenda as the Blues explore late-window alternatives.
