Xavi Simons is a 22-year-old Dutch international footballer who currently plays first division football with PSV. The midfielder was born and brought up in a family of footballers; his father was a former footballer, and his two brothers also play football.
He would have been one of the wonder kids to rise through the Barcelona ranks, but that didn’t happen as a result of the failure to sign a new deal with the Catalan club. So, the Ligue 1 side Paris Saint-Germain grabbed the opportunity to land the young midfielder in 2019. Two years later, he joined the Eredivisie side, PSV.
One thing though, he is not just a growing sensation on the pitch, but also on social media, especially on Instagram. Here is more about him.
Who Is Xavi Simons?
It was on April 21, 2003, that the family of Regillio and Peggy Simons welcomed Xavier Quentin Shay Simons in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. He has 4 siblings; Faustino Simons, Ojani Simons, Tyrese Simons, and Codylian Simons
Interestingly, the young football prodigy grew up in a family that has football running through their veins. It wasn’t difficult for him and his two brothers; Faustino and Ojani, to choose soccer over anything since his father was a retired Dutch footballer.
Just like most football stars who discovered their knack for soccer at a tender age, the 22 years old showed signs of an incredible player while he was much younger. He spent much of his time sharpening his skills.
So, at the age of 6, he joined the famous La Masia, the Barcelona youth academy where the likes of former Barcelona legends; Lionel Messi and Andreas Iniesta and a couple of others passed through.
He went through the club’s youth system, dishing out stellar performances that left fans and critics in awe. Consequently, he was made the captain of the club’s youth team, and in addition to winning a number of personal awards, further propelling his prestige as a great prospect in the near future.
In 2020, the midfielder was named on Goal’s NxGn 2020 list of 50 best wonderkids in world football, as well as The Guardian’s Next Generation 2020. He has also won the Ballon d’Or for the best youth player on four different occasions.
Meet His Family Members That Played Football
As earlier mentioned, Xavi Simons enjoyed the liberty of being raised by Regillio Simons, his father who also played football. The midfielder’s father played for some popular Dutch clubs, including Ado Den Haag, Willem ll, and FC Turkiyemspor which happens to be his last. He hung his football boots four years after the birth of Simons on 1st July 2007.
His father was already into the coaching system before retiring in 2007, but as an assistant manager in the same club where he finally retired. He also served as an assistant manager for Watergraafsmeer and SV Huizen between 2008 and 2011.
Xavi Simons’ father’s first job as a full manager was with VV Hillegom and Voorland. He later became the coach for the Ajax youth team from 2013 to 2017.
Simons’ mother Peggy must be proud to see her son whom she carried for 9 months in her womb, gradually climbing the radar of success in his soccer career. It is always a thing of joy for any mother to witness such moments.
The midfielder’s two brothers; Faustino and Ojani are said to be footballers. However, there is very little information on both of them. Available information shows that Faustino played as a midfielder, and has played for FSC Lohfelden, but is now retired
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7 Interesting Details About Xavi Simons
1. His Family Relocated to Spain When He Was Three
When Simons was three years old, his parents relocated to Rojales in Spain. It was here he caught the attention of Barcelona scouts who in turn brought him to La Masia. While at the club’s youth academy, the young boy shows his versatility by fitting in different roles and positions on the pitch.
2. Both Dutch and Spanish Football Associations Vie for His Commitment
His reputation precedes him, and he became of the most hyped football prodigies in Spain. This sparked the interest of both Dutch and Spanish football associations who made efforts to convince him to make commitments. However, he picks the Oranje, featuring in the youth teams.
For now, it is still not clear which side, he would if a senior national team call-up should come. Only time would tell.
3. He Didn’t Debut for Barcelona’s First Team Before Joining PSG
Simons was already on his way to making a first-team appearance for the Catalan club, but it didn’t happen as a result of his move to PSG after 9 years at Barcelona. The Ligue 1 outfit signed the young midfielder in 2019 for three years. According to him, it’s “A change of scenery”.
It was reported that his agent, Mino Raiola made unusual demands, and this may have been the primary reason for his exodus from the club. All the agent wanted was for his client to have a superior position within Barcelona’s youth system, and informed the club that the player has caught a lot of attention should they refuse.
Since Barcelona was not ready to treat him as a sacred cow, Raiola looked the other way by striking a deal with PSG in its place.
4. He Was Named After a Former Barcelona Player
The Dutch midfielder was christened after ex-Barcelona captain and Spain international Xavi. He retired from playing football in 2019.
5. Simons Has Never Played for a Dutch Club Until 19
As earlier mentioned, he was born in the Netherlands but moved to Spain with his family at the age of three. He grew up there and started playing football there. As a result, he has never played for any Dutch club, but all that changed when he joined Eredivisie club, PSV on a 5-year
6. How Rich Is He?
His net worth has not been evaluated at this time, but that doesn’t mean the young midfielder is not earning a decent amount of money. We all know that football pays, and besides PSG is one of the richest clubs in the world that is known for paying their players well.
Simons reportedly earned about 1 million Euros annually from his 3-year contract with PSG starting from 2019 to 2022. At the moment, it is not clear how much the attacking midfielder is earning at PSV.
Asides from his salary and other bonuses, Simons has a huge deal with Nike and UNICEF.
7. Is He Tall?
The midfielder is above average in height. He is 5 feet 8 inches (1.73m) tall. His bodyweight is measured as 58kg (128lbs).
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