Xavi Simons reveals how Timo Werner helped him pick Spurs amid Chelsea interest

Xavi Simons has explained why he chose to join Tottenham this summer, amid interest from Bayern Munich and Chelsea.

Simons joined Spurs last week from RB Leipzig as part of a deal worth just over £50million.

Prior to that, the attacking midfielder had been on the radar of both Bayern Munich and Chelsea earlier in the transfer window.

Neither side firmed up their interest, however, and instead it was Tottenham that pushed to sign Simons in the final days of the window.

And the Dutchman has now lifted the lid on why he was so delighted to put pen to paper on a long-term contract at Spurs.

“I’m happy to be a Tottenham player,” Simons told German newspaper Leipziger Volkszeitung. “Since I was a child, it’s been my dream to play in the Premier League.

“The club’s vision, the magnificent stadium, the fans, the quality of the team, the coach - it’s a fantastic environment.

“I want to settle in quickly in my new home and show why Tottenham signed me.”

At one stage earlier in the summer, Bayern had looked favourites to sign Simons due to their director of sport, Max Eberl.

Eberl used to work at RB Leipzig and was their director of sport there when they signed Simons in 2023.

“In football, there are always discussions,” said Simons, when asked about Bayern’s interest. “But I don’t want to name names. Max was one of those who brought me to RB Leipzig, and I’ll always be grateful to him for that.

“The most important thing was to find a place where I could develop and express my playing style. That’s the way it is at Spurs.

“My first impressions of the club are great; I felt the energy and ambition when I was introduced to the fans.

“Expectations are high, both for the team and for me. I’m looking forward to duels against the best players in the world.”

Simons has also revealed how he spoke to Timo Werner, his former team-mate at Leipzig, before joining Spurs.

Werner spent 18 months on loan at Tottenham and told Simons that he would enjoy his time in north London.

“He told me a lot about the club’s greatness and the fantastic fans,” said Simons. “And he said he thought it was the right place for me to learn and improve. Thanks for your trust, Timo!”