One year since he left the club, Xavi Simons is returning to Paris. Ligue 1 giants PSG triggered his €6 million buy back clause after an impressive season where the Dutchman scored 22 goals in 48 games.
Simons originally joined PSG in 2019 when he was 16, having previously featured in Barcelona’s academy. He made his debut less than two years later, coming on as a substitute in a 1-0 Coupe de France victory over SM Caen. Simons had started three matches and played eleven for the first team by the summer of 2022, when his contract was set to expire.
Simons initially agreed to renew his contract with PSG and then head to Eredivisie side PSV Eindhoven on loan. However, he changed his mind at the last minute, leaving for PSV on a permanent deal. PSG retained a buy back clause of €6 million.
Back in the Netherlands, he was a revelation: Simons scored braces in three of his first four Eredivisie matches and was able to earn a spot on the Dutch World Cup team, even if he only played seven minutes in Qatar. By the end of the season, he had scored 22 goals, assisted 12, and won both the Dutch Cup and Dutch Super Cup. He also finished as the joint-top scorer of the Eredivisie.
For PSG, the choice was obvious — paying the release clause of just €6 million was a bargain for a player as good as Simons.
For Simons, it was a more difficult decision. He had struggled to break through with PSG, whereas he impressed with PSV and could play in the Champions League. Furthermore, other clubs wanted to sign him — Fabrizio Romano reported interest from Manchester United, Arsenal, Brighton, Tottenham, Dortmund and Leipzig.
Simons has made his decision and will sign for PSG. Next season, he will join RB Leipzig on loan (potential Bundesliga challengers thanks to some smart acquisitions) and look to become a starter for PSG in 2024. It’s a risky move, but Simons could be the new face of PSG soon.
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Image Courtesy of Eloy Lecina, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
