I don’t know much about him but I like the idea of signing a player who is on the verge of becoming his peak - rather than the usual 18/19 under developed signing.

Romano now reporting he’ll be less than £60m

Eze is better, if the fees are similar I know which one I'd rather have for the left side...

Simons is an interesting one. Touted as a child prodigy, hyped up by YouTube only to fall relatively flat in senior football. Instead of following the Felix trajectory, he took a move to PSV, got back to basics and has shown he's actually more of a grafter than a grifter. Getting away from PSG and (in sad circumstances) Mino Raiola in 2022 might yet be the best thing for his career.

With the right coach I think he could have a similar trajectory to Bernardo Silva at City, going from tricky winger to hard-grafting, dynamic, versatile playmaker. I've said before that Felix could have made that role but he clearly has neither the interest nor the ability. I like that he also has a proper mean streak about him, like a Drogba or Hazard, he will absolutely give back whatever he takes but also embarass you with sublime skill too.

Tactically he is interesting too, plays in similar areas to Palmer but favours the left side making him a good complement. He covers LW, Palmer and Enzo's position but potentially better at the things Maresca needs from Enzo at 10.

Of course the gap between Bundesliga and EPL level is a chasm these days, so all the above needs to be subject to the obligatory salt.

4 hours ago, timetowaste said:

That's such a lazy comparison 😂

Yeah he’s more like Sterling

1 hour ago, BordeauxBlue said:

Eze is better, if the fees are similar I know which one I'd rather have for the left side...

He's also 27 which is outside Chelsea's age demographic and demanding wages which are outside of the new club structure

I like him alot as a player but I am pretty doubtful Chelsea want him that badly to break recruitment model to get

Edited July 22, 2025Jul 22 by Qaz

I like that Delap, Pedro and Gittens are all big, strong, hard working, physical counterpressers. I think it will help alot next year being able maintain a higher intensity counterpress for longer than we could with Nkunku, Madueke and Sancho.

This is why hearing about getting another smaller attacker in who isn't known for his physicality, pressing and defensive workrate doesn't really excite me.

If it was (a younger) Messi (or Palmer) we were talking about, I get it. They are so good offensively that you can justify them being carried a bit defensively. But I don't see Xavi Simons being that level

7 hours ago, The Boehly Babes said:

Dutch Joao Felix. Pointless.

Lazy comparison and pointless comment. He is not like Joao Felix.

1 hour ago, Qaz said:

This is why hearing about getting another smaller attacker in who isn't known for his physicality, pressing and defensive workrate doesn't really excite me.

He very much is. He has started to reinvent himself, and while it is on him to stick to that trajectory, he is more like a Willian or Bernardo Silva than a pure attacker. He's much better defensively than Enzo Fernandez, for example.

Only 22 years old and already:

• Failed to agree a new contract with Barca as a child.

• Moved to PSG for 1M a year at 16.

• Didn't sign a contract extension with PSG, moved to PSV on a permanent deal.

• Moved back to PSG on the cheap by agreeing personal terms following the buy back that he could have turned down.

• Went on loan to RB for 1.5 years then signed for big money in January. 6 month after signing permanently he wants to leave because the club (which he was part of) didn't make CL football.

• Signed with Nike at 13, moved to Adidas in 2021 then Puma in 2023.

• Had 3 agents already at the age of 22.

He doesn't seem like someone that will stick around here, slightest bit of a wobble and he'll be forcing a move elsewhere. Falls into the Garnacho category for me. I'd rather us build a coherent squad than egotistical players, plus he'd limit Estevao's minutes.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Only 22 years old and already:

• Failed to agree a new contract with Barca as a child.

• Moved to PSG for 1M a year at 16.

• Didn't sign a contract extension with PSG, moved to PSV on a permanent deal.

• Moved back to PSG on the cheap by agreeing personal terms following the buy back that he could have turned down.

• Went on loan to RB for 1.5 years then signed for big money in January. 6 month after signing permanently he wants to leave because the club (which he was part of) didn't make CL football.

• Signed with Nike at 13, moved to Adidas in 2021 then Puma in 2023.

• Had 3 agents already at the age of 22.

He doesn't seem like someone that will stick around here, slightest bit of a wobble and he'll be forcing a move elsewhere. Falls into the Garnacho category for me. I'd rather us build a coherent squad than egotistical players, plus he'd limit Estevao's minutes.

I don't think he'd necessarily limit Estevao as i think that they will look to use him drifting in from the left, but i think all other points are bang on.

If we are going down this route i would rather Yildiz. Might not have the burst of pace but has bags of guile and would probably not cost as much as Rogers. Plus we could probably get some sort of player sale to Juve as well as part of it.

Really hoping this is all just media buzz, never seen the kid do anything noteworthy other than have a recognisable name from his time at La Masia. Ergo the Joao Felix comparisons are fair, he’s more of a ‘name’ than an actual footballer.

Morgan Rogers is where we should be looking, PL proven, rapport with Palmer & by all accounts Emery has shown an interest in Jackson so could be a two birds one stone type deal that is just perfect for the current climate.

Also everyone forgets we’ve got Kendry Paez as well, let’s see how he gets on at RCS before we go too deep on the next projected ‘superstar’

The most important element to this is that its the same agent for Simons as:

• Ekitike

• Jackson

• Madueke

• Huijsen

• Caicedo

• DAhoud

• Azmoun

Barat may be the new Mendes in the making

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Only 22 years old and already:

• Failed to agree a new contract with Barca as a child.

• Moved to PSG for 1M a year at 16.

• Didn't sign a contract extension with PSG, moved to PSV on a permanent deal.

• Moved back to PSG on the cheap by agreeing personal terms following the buy back that he could have turned down.

• Went on loan to RB for 1.5 years then signed for big money in January. 6 month after signing permanently he wants to leave because the club (which he was part of) didn't make CL football.

• Signed with Nike at 13, moved to Adidas in 2021 then Puma in 2023.

• Had 3 agents already at the age of 22.

He doesn't seem like someone that will stick around here, slightest bit of a wobble and he'll be forcing a move elsewhere. Falls into the Garnacho category for me. I'd rather us build a coherent squad than egotistical players, plus he'd limit Estevao's minutes.

His signing was a profit play by Leipzig. He is their record signing ever, and they only gave him a 2yr contract. All intention was/is to sell him this summer.

As for the PSG move; he was signed at 17yrs as a youth team player. Stepped up to the first team in 2021; that same summer they signed Messi, with Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe already at the club he was never going to get game time. He moved to PSV as a 19yr old in 2022, had a brilliant debut season with 19 league goals and 8 assists. PSG immediately activated his buyback clause for €5m. That summer PSG appointed Luis Enrique as their manager, and they went crazy in the market. They signed Dembele, Barcola, Asensio, Kang-In-Lee, Ekitike, Muani, and Gonçalo Ramos all for big money. They €5m signing never stood a chance so he went to Leizig on loan. Scored 8 league goals and 11 assists on loan; comes back and they signed Doue, with Kvaratskhelia coming in Jan.

Never really stood a chance at PSG under Tuchel, Pochettino, Gaultier and Enrique. 4 managers in his 4-5yr period in PSG is not the right conditions for a young player. Personally think he is a much rounded player, and has shown great resilience despite his circumstances. He has been brilliant at PSV and Leipzig.

Xavi Simons is keen on the move. He likes the project of Chelsea, and so the conversation is now going to be ongoing in the next days between Chelsea and Leipzig on the transfer fee, but Xavi Simons is the next big target for Chelsea.

[@FabrizioRomano]

Talks between Chelsea and #Xavi Simons’ camp, which also includes his brother Faustino, will continue today. The goal is to reach a verbal agreement. Xavi is open to a move to #CFC. Talks with Leipzig will follow in due course. In the event of a transfer, Chelsea can imagine playing with two number tens.

Arsenal are so far only waiting in the wings. As for FC Bayern, he remains a personal topic for Max Eberl. At present, however, there is still no progress despite stalled negotiations regarding Nick Woltemade. @SkySportDE 🇳🇱

If his contract ends 2027 we should be negotiating around £40m, especially with the player wanting to leave.

15 minutes ago, markpitts said:

His signing was a profit play by Leipzig. He is their record signing ever, and they only gave him a 2yr contract. All intention was/is to sell him this summer.

As for the PSG move; he was signed at 17yrs as a youth team player. Stepped up to the first team in 2021; that same summer they signed Messi, with Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe already at the club he was never going to get game time. He moved to PSV as a 19yr old in 2022, had a brilliant debut season with 19 league goals and 8 assists. PSG immediately activated his buyback clause for €5m. That summer PSG appointed Luis Enrique as their manager, and they went crazy in the market. They signed Dembele, Barcola, Asensio, Kang-In-Lee, Ekitike, Muani, and Gonçalo Ramos all for big money. They €5m signing never stood a chance so he went to Leizig on loan. Scored 8 league goals and 11 assists on loan; comes back and they signed Doue, with Kvaratskhelia coming in Jan.

Never really stood a chance at PSG under Tuchel, Pochettino, Gaultier and Enrique. 4 managers in his 4-5yr period in PSG is not the right conditions for a young player. Personally think he is a much rounded player, and has shown great resilience despite his circumstances. He has been brilliant at PSV and Leipzig.

That last sentence stood out for me. The same clubs that Madueke, Nkunku and Werner looked brilliant at.

10 minutes ago, Sconnie Blue said:

If his contract ends 2027 we should be negotiating around £40m, especially with the player wanting to leave.

Didn't they spend 50M on him in January? They're going to want a profit on that i assume.

1 hour ago, markpitts said:

His signing was a profit play by Leipzig. He is their record signing ever, and they only gave him a 2yr contract. All intention was/is to sell him this summer.

As for the PSG move; he was signed at 17yrs as a youth team player. Stepped up to the first team in 2021; that same summer they signed Messi, with Di Maria, Neymar, Mbappe already at the club he was never going to get game time. He moved to PSV as a 19yr old in 2022, had a brilliant debut season with 19 league goals and 8 assists. PSG immediately activated his buyback clause for €5m. That summer PSG appointed Luis Enrique as their manager, and they went crazy in the market. They signed Dembele, Barcola, Asensio, Kang-In-Lee, Ekitike, Muani, and Gonçalo Ramos all for big money. They €5m signing never stood a chance so he went to Leizig on loan. Scored 8 league goals and 11 assists on loan; comes back and they signed Doue, with Kvaratskhelia coming in Jan.

Never really stood a chance at PSG under Tuchel, Pochettino, Gaultier and Enrique. 4 managers in his 4-5yr period in PSG is not the right conditions for a young player. Personally think he is a much rounded player, and has shown great resilience despite his circumstances. He has been brilliant at PSV and Leipzig.

Thank you! Including decisions from when he was a child, decision he probably wasn't even in charge of as well is just hater behaviour.

1 hour ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Didn't they spend 50M on him in January? They're going to want a profit on that i assume.

Should have given him a longer contract then.

I've never heard of him, to be fair. I don't watch football much except for Chelsea. But seems like maybe not the best use of our money.

Spending for the sake of spending. Signing a player for the sake of signing a player. Again.

Probably be farmed out on loan within 12 months if we sign him...

47 minutes ago, timetowaste said:

Thank you! Including decisions from when he was a child, decision he probably wasn't even in charge of as well is just hater behaviour.

What about his decisions now? Signing with RB on a permanent fee and then forcing a move 6 months later because they missed out on CL. Stinks of signing him and him forcing a move in 2 years.

46 minutes ago, Zeta said:

Should have given him a longer contract then.

Agreed, i imagine that wasn't their choice.

See previous comments about him likely to be an issue for us in a couple of years.

49 minutes ago, bluelightening said:

Spending for the sake of spending. Signing a player for the sake of signing a player. Again.

Probably be farmed out on loan within 12 months if we sign him...

If we are ditching or seeing less with inverted fullbacks, I can back this signing.

2 hours ago, Ukraine Bolt said:

Didn't they spend 50M on him in January? They're going to want a profit on that i assume.

They did a sh*tty job trying to secure his value. £50M with £30M in potential addons (with a sell on clause) and only a 2 year deal?

Leipzig are either very ignorant or there was something shady with his loan move to begin with.