Xavi Simons has ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament and will miss approximately eight months of action – ending his Premier League season with Tottenham and almost certainly wiping out his chances of representing the Netherlands at this summer’s World Cup.
The 23-year-old went down in the 63rd minute of Spurs’ 1-0 win at Wolves on Saturday after twisting his knee chasing a ball towards the byline, and was stretchered off Molineux. The full ACL diagnosis confirmed what the sight of that stretcher had feared. Surgery is scheduled in the coming weeks, with rehabilitation to follow under Tottenham’s medical team.
Spurs’ Relegation Fight Just Got Harder
The timing could hardly be worse for Roberto De Zerbi. Tottenham’s precarious position in the relegation battle makes Simons’ creativity more valuable than ever – and now it is gone. Spurs remain 18th in the table, two points behind West Ham with four matches left, and De Zerbi was already without nine players at Molineux before losing Simons and Dominic Solanke – who picked up a muscle injury during the same game – in the same afternoon.
Saturday’s win was Tottenham’s first in 16 league games. They head to Aston Villa on Sunday needing to build on it with a squad that is barely holding together. Simons had contributed 2 goals and 5 assists in 28 Premier League appearances this season – a consistent creative presence in a side that has struggled desperately for exactly that. Lucas Bergvall and Mathys Tel will be asked to fill that void. It is a significant ask.
Netherlands World Cup Hopes Take a Hit
Beyond the club picture, this is a devastating blow for the Netherlands. The World Cup kicks off in late June – just 45 days away – hosted across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. An eight-month recovery puts Simons nowhere near a return in time, and Ronald Koeman will now have to reshuffle his midfield plans entirely, leaning more heavily on the likes of Tijjani Reijnders and Cody Gakpo for creative output.
Simons did not hold back in expressing his devastation on Instagram: “They say life can be cruel and today it feels that way. My season has come to an abrupt end and I’m just trying to process it. Honestly, I’m heartbroken. None of it makes sense. All I’ve wanted to do is fight for my team and now the ability to do that has been snatched away from me, along with the World Cup.” It is hard to read that and not feel it – and it is the kind of statement that reminds you there is a footballer behind the transfer news.
A Cruel Blow at the Worst Possible Time for Simons
Simons joined Spurs from RB Leipzig in the summer of 2025 for a reported £52 million, arriving off the back of standout loan spells at PSV and Leipzig that had made him one of the most exciting young midfielders in Europe. His debut season – 39 appearances, 5 goals, 6 assists across all competitions – had been quietly impressive given the chaos around him at the club. It mirrors the brutal luck seen elsewhere this season, with ACL injuries wrecking careers at a critical moment becoming an increasingly grim trend.
Tottenham confirmed the injury in a club statement, adding: “He will then begin his rehabilitation with our medical team. Everyone at Tottenham Hotspur sends Xavi our love and support – we will be with him every step of the way.” The football world will echo that sentiment. Right now though, De Zerbi needs points from four brutal fixtures – and he is going to have to find them without one of his most important players.
