The Netherlands midfielder, who has been out since rupturing a knee ligament in April, says he wants to “invest in myself beyond football” while he works his way back to fitness.
Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons has enrolled on a course at Harvard University while he continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury. The 23-year-old has joined Harvard Business School’s Crossover into Business programme, which is designed for professional athletes. Simons has been sidelined since rupturing an anterior cruciate ligament in April, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. He announced the move on LinkedIn.
The course
The programme lasts one semester and is taught online. It pairs athletes with Harvard MBA students, who mentor them through practical case studies and enterprise management, with the aim of developing their commercial and management skills.
“I’m going back to school,” Simons wrote on LinkedIn. “During my recovery, I’ve been trying to use my time in the best way possible. Football is still my main focus, but I also want to keep learning and improving away from the pitch.”
He added: “Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority. At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football. Looking forward to getting started.”
Simons has an existing link with Harvard professor Anita Elberse. He said they first met during his time at Barcelona and reconnected while he was at Paris Saint-Germain, a longstanding relationship that made the opportunity particularly meaningful to him.
Rehabilitation in the United States
Simons recently travelled to the United States to step up his physical rehabilitation and visited Harvard’s campus in Boston. During the trip, he met athletes from American professional sports and visited members of Tottenham’s Boston supporters’ club. He is continuing his rehabilitation there.
The injury
Simons ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee during Tottenham’s 1-0 win against Wolverhampton Wanderers on 25 April. He underwent surgery on 5 May and then began rehabilitation. The injury ruled him out of the rest of Tottenham’s season and ended his hopes of playing at the 2026 World Cup in the United States, Canada and Mexico.
Simons has spoken about the emotional toll of his recovery. In July, he described the first four days after surgery as the worst of his life, saying he struggled with pain, sleep and eating before gradually moving forward with rehabilitation.
