The Premier League Flop That Nobody is Talking About

Spurs lost to Aston Villa this weekend at home.

After a strong start to the season, things are starting to unravel, with the novelty of new manager Thomas Frank starting to wear off. As the new summer signings take time to settle in, many are questioning some of the incomings. Mohammed Kudus has hit the ground running at Spurs, but there's one who isn't quite setting the Premier League alight in the way they promised he would.

Xavi Simons, the flop nobody is talking about.

Simons' Numbers

After fighting off competition from Chelsea towards the end of the summer window, Tottenham signed Xavi Simons from Leipzig for a fee of around £52 million.

🤍👋🏾 Xavi Simons unveiled at Spurs: “Tottenham called… I answered”. 📞 pic.twitter.com/LnRQGkPLLq
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 30, 2025

Simons has made 8 appearances for Tottenham this season so far, tallying up just 1 assist. In his 5 Premier League appearances, Simons has played 331 minutes in the league and does not have a goal to his name.

What are your thoughts on Xavi Simons' last seven games for Spurs? 😬#Spurs #TOTAVL pic.twitter.com/nNOT8Dp0N7
— DR Sports (@drsportsmedia) October 19, 2025

Playing either on the left wing or in the attacking midfield position, it's fair to say that the Netherlands international has struggled to adapt to his new surroundings.

Tottenham's Season So Far

Despite narrowly losing on penalties in the Super Cup against PSG, Spurs started their Premier League campaign very strongly under their new manager Thomas Frank. The side won their opening 2 games, defeating Burnley 3-0 at home, and then beating Man City at the Etihad 2-0.

Their form continued into September, with Spurs enjoying an unbeaten month in all competitions.

However, things are starting to unfold now. After a disappointing loss to Aston Villa where the side were leading the game, many are starting to reassess the squad, and many fingers are turning to Xavi Simons.

FT: Tottenham 1-2 Aston Villa.

TOTTENHAM SUFFER THEIR 2ND PREMIER LEAGUE DEFEAT OF THE SEASON! ❌ pic.twitter.com/vA8PbK3XcK
— The Touchline | 𝐓 (@TouchlineX) October 19, 2025

What next for Simons and Tottenham?

It's still early doors of course, but things are not looking too promising. Considering how highly Simons was regarded when signing, fan's frustrations can be validated.

Compared to Spurs' other summer acquisitions, Simons has been nothing short of lacklustre. The player will be hoping to recapture his form from his RB Leipzig days soon, or we could be looking at another tale of a failed Bundesliga to Premier League switch.

Published 20 Oct 2025

Arthur Turner

Arthur is a writer at The Football Park, where he primarily focuses on African football and CAF competitions. Having spent a decade living in South Africa, he developed a deep passion for the continent’s game, which continues to shape his storytelling. Spotlighting emerging talents, major continental tournaments, and the cultural heartbeat of football across Africa, he provides fans with everything they need to know about African football.

Earlier in his writing career, Arthur covered the full breadth of the EFL as well as the rich, ever-evolving world of grassroots football, building a foundation in match reporting and feature writing. Arthur’s previous work also includes detailed season coverage of Chelsea FC loan players, writing extensively about rising stars such as Estevão Willian and Andrey Santos. A lifelong Chelsea fan, he brings both emotional investment and sharp insight to everything he produces.

Currently a student, Arthur blends light-hearted, fan-friendly storytelling with thoughtful tactical analysis and narrative-driven features, exploring both the technical and cultural sides of the sport with clarity and enthusiasm.

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The Premier League Flop That Nobody is Talking About