Xavi Simons has given fans a positive update on his recovery, promising that a new-and-improved version of him will be on show once he’s back on the pitch.
The Dutchman’s start to life at Tottenham was far from smooth, but things began clicking for him once Roberto De Zerbi arrived. Just as he was building momentum and confidence, a serious ACL injury brought that progress to a sudden halt.
The 22-year-old is reportedly facing the possibility of missing the rest of 2026, a major blow for De Zerbi’s rebuild given how creative an outlet Simons had become in midfield.
While squad-mates like Dejan Kulusevski, Mohammed Kudus, and Wilson Odobert have already resumed gym work at Hotspur Way as pre-season gets underway, Simons remains on an individual recovery plan away from the main group.
Still, he says the rehab is going smoothly. According to Simons, his knee is gaining strength week by week, though there’s still work needed to rebuild muscle in the leg after an extended spell without normal training.
He also stressed that mental confidence in the knee matters as much as physical recovery, and that he’s currently focused on rebuilding his running technique, balance, hip strength, and upper body before stepping back onto the training field.
Simons stopped short of naming a return date, but suggested he already has a personal target in mind and will discuss the comeback timeline with Spurs’ medical team once he’s fully ready. He was clear that he has no intention of forcing the process or setting expectations too early, preferring instead to focus on daily progress.
With the Premier League season nearly here, he’s expected to miss the early fixtures, though he’s hopeful Tottenham can begin the campaign strongly under De Zerbi before he’s back involved.
The biggest takeaway for supporters, though, was his promise for the comeback itself — Simons believes the injury will make him a better player in the long run, and fans should expect a noticeably different version of him once he returns.
Rather than dwell on the setback, he’s choosing to see it as a chance to grow, determined to come back fitter, stronger, and repay the club’s trust in him.
