Tottenham Hotspur forward Xavi Simons has taken the unusual step of enrolling in a course at Harvard University as he works his way back from a long-term injury lay-off.
Simons has been sidelined since rupturing a knee ligament in April, missing out on a possible appearance at the World Cup with the Netherlands, and is not expected back until some time in 2027.
The 23-year-old is making use of the recovery time as he continues his rehabilitation, though, having been accepted onto Harvard’s Crossover into Business programme, designed for athletes wishing to develop skills in commercial fields.
“I’m going back to school,” Simons explained 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.
“I’ve always been interested in more than just football. I want to understand the business side of the game better, learn from people in different industries and keep developing as a person.
“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.”
The online course pairs athletes with MBA students at Harvard for mentorship across practical case studies and enterprise management.
Past participants include former tennis world No 1 Victoria Azarenka, as well as players from the NFL and NBA.