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Xavi Simons Signs for Tottenham, Will Wear No.7 and Pledges Flair and Commitment

Xavi Simons joins Tottenham from RB Leipzig, takes the No.7 shirt and pledges flair and effort. Now

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Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed the signing of Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig on a long-term contract. The arrival of Simons includes an immediate assumption of the No.7 shirt, vacated by outgoing club captain Son Heung-min.

The midfielder said the conversation he had with Spurs boss Thomas Frank was decisive in his move to N17. “I’m really happy and can’t wait to get going,” Simons told the official Tottenham Hotspur website . “I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time.

“It’s a great club and when I met the head coach I knew straight away that this was the right place for me. I will bring flair to the team but also hard work and discipline. I want to do everything I can to win, for the team and also for the fans.”

Tottenham’s statement framed the transfer as a strategic addition to the squad and confirmed the club view that Simons will play a key role under Frank. On his part, the head coach expressed clear enthusiasm for the new signing. “I’m really pleased we have brought Xavi in—he is a great addition to the squad,” the Danish boss beamed. “He is still young, however he already has good experience and, over the past few years, has played a lot of games at the top level.

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The move represents a notable change in Tottenham’s squad, with the No.7 shirt passing from a departing captain to a player described as bringing both creativity and discipline. The club and player now head into preparations with Simons available to integrate under the manager who helped convince him to make the move to N17.

Aston Villa

Seven Premier League exits that could still happen before summer windows close

Seven Premier League players still have time to move this summer as late windows remain open. still.

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Several high-profile squad issues from the summer transfer period remain unresolved as windows in other countries stay open. A number of players who sought moves during the summer have seen potential destinations narrow, but transfers are still possible.

Emiliano Martínez looked to have said farewell to Aston Villa supporters at the end of last season but did not complete a move and now faces an uncomfortable return. He was linked with Manchester United late in the window, but United signed Senne Lammens instead. Martínez has been connected with the Saudi Pro League and could still be a target there; Galatasaray are another reported option after failing to sign Éderson.

André Onana has not actively pursued an exit and is content at Manchester United, yet the arrival of Lammens has altered the goalkeeper pecking order. Onana has been replaced by Altay Bayındır for all three of United’s Premier League matches this season and only featured in the Carabao Cup defeat to Grimsby Town. A move to Turkey or Saudi Arabia remains a possibility if offers appear.

Tyrell Malacia was the only member of Manchester United’s so-called ‘bomb squad’ who did not secure an exit, with Marcus Rashford, Jadon Sancho, Alejandro Garnacho and Antony all leaving. A late loan to Elche fell through and the left back is currently in limbo, with first-team minutes at Old Trafford unlikely.

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Raheem Sterling’s loan at Arsenal diminished his standing and a permanent exit from Chelsea did not materialise despite reported interest, including from Fulham. Sterling has never played abroad and, given Chelsea’s reported weekly wage commitment, a move away will be costly for the club if they fail to shift him.

Axel Disasi arrived at Chelsea from Monaco for £39 million but fell down the pecking order under Enzo Maresca and spent the second half of last season on loan at Aston Villa. Villa declined to sign him permanently and links to Bournemouth and Monaco did not progress. Chelsea continue to pay his reported wages and clubs in Turkey, Portugal or Saudi Arabia could offer a solution.

Yves Bissouma has been marginalised since Thomas Frank’s arrival at Tottenham Hotspur and was even omitted from the club’s league phase Champions League squad. Reports link him with interest from Turkey and Saudi Arabia as Spurs seek to recoup a fee before his contract runs down next summer.

Jamaal Lascelles has been pushed further down the pecking order at Newcastle United following the signing of Malick Thiaw. He has not featured this season, though he was on the bench for the goalless draw at Leeds United, and The Athletic reports Newcastle may allow him to leave this summer despite the domestic deadline.

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Premier League

Daniel Levy leaves Tottenham after 25 years: commerce, compromise and a conflicted legacy

Levy leaves Spurs after 25 years: built commercial power, won two trophies, left divided fans still.

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Chick King. Beavertown. “We want Levy Out!” Those refrains and the rush for the train home were fixtures of matchday life in N17 as Daniel Levy’s near-25-year stewardship came to an end.

Levy arrived alongside the ENIC Group in 2001 when the club was valued at around £80 million. The chairman’s commercial acumen transformed that position. In May 2025 Spurs were rated the ninth most valuable club in the world at £2.6 billion by Forbes and were generating over £500 million in annual revenue. At 63, Levy departs having overseen a financial and infrastructural rebuild that altered the club’s scale.

Yet the record on the pitch divided opinion. During his tenure Tottenham lifted just two pieces of silverware, including last season’s Europa League, won in Bilbao with a 1–0 victory over Manchester United. There is a clear contrast between Levy the businessman and Levy the football operator.

Transfermarkt records that only six clubs have posted a greater net spend in European football since ENIC took over, but the chairman’s strict wage framework often steered recruitment toward emerging talent rather than established stars. That pattern showed in key moments. Midway through 2011–12, Harry Redknapp’s side were in title contention but transfer targets such as Álvaro Negredo, Fernando Llorente and Giuseppe Rossi did not materialise; instead Louis Saha arrived and Ryan Nelsen was signed to cover William Gallas’s injury. Spurs finished fourth but missed Champions League qualification after Chelsea’s triumph in Munich.

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The Gareth Bale era yielded funds that produced Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela among seven arrivals. Mauricio Pochettino later galvanised the squad, which finished the final season at White Hart Lane unbeaten and then endured almost two full campaigns at Wembley. The debt from the stadium project contributed to a summer of 2018 with no incoming players.

Post-Pochettino, José Mourinho and Antonio Conte brought brief highs but no trophies. Ange Postecoglou, the 13th manager under Levy, delivered the Europa League yet was dismissed two weeks after the 1–0 win over Manchester United. Levy’s exit came amid a wider ENIC restructure and questions about the club’s poorest league campaign in almost 50 years. Supporters largely celebrated his departure, even as the structures he put in place leave Spurs a supergiant waiting to explode, for better or worse.

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Premier League

Tottenham confirm Daniel Levy will step down after almost 25 years

Daniel Levy has stepped down after nearly 25 years; club stresses stability and no ownership changes

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Tottenham Hotspur have confirmed that executive chairman Daniel Levy has stepped down after nearly 25 years in charge. As a shareholder of owners ENIC, Levy at one point was the highest paid Premier League chief executive, earning over £6 million ($8 million) a year.

“I was lucky enough to work with some of the greatest people in this sport, from the team at Lilywhite House and Hotspur Way to all the players and managers over the years.”

Levy’s tenure encompassed managerial appointments from Glenn Hoddle in 2001 through to the current manager Thomas Frank. Among the most visible projects during his time was the development of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, built to replace the old White Hart Lane. The stadium has also become a venue for major music events and NFL games under a 10-year deal signed in 2018.

He is also associated with a then world record sale when Gareth Bale left for Real Madrid in 2013 for £86 million. Levy promoted a structure focused on developing players, with notable graduates and signings including Christian Eriksen, Son Heung-min and Dele Alli.

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“I wish to thank all the fans that have supported me over the years. It hasn’t always been an easy journey but significant progress has been made. I will continue to support this club passionately,” Levy stated in closing.

Throughout his time as chairman he was subject to criticism from Spurs supporters for operating a budget less comparable to the other traditional ‘Big Six’ sides in England—Arsenal, Manchester United, Manchester City, Chelsea and Liverpool.

Changes at board level have already been under way. Ex-Arsenal managing director Vinai Venkatesham arrived earlier this year as chief executive, while Peter Charrington has been appointed non-executive chairman. “I do recognise there has been a lot of change in recent months as we put in place new foundations for the future,” Charrington said. “We are now fully focused on stability and empowering our talented people across the Club, led by Vinai and his executive team.”

The club reiterated that there are no ownership or shareholder structural changes.

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