Premier League
Tottenham’s Summer Statement: Xavi Simons and a Clear Creative Plan
Simons’ £51.8m move gives Tottenham a marketable, creative spark capable of changing their attack. .
Tottenham’s late-window capture of Xavi Simons felt like the conclusion of a hectic transfer saga and the start of a different approach. The club completed a £51.8 million ($70 million) deal for a 22-year-old who arrived with a high profile from early youth days at La Masia.
Simons was already widely known long before his senior breakthrough. He had a million Instagram followers and a Nike deal by the time he was 14, developing a reputation as the “boy with golden curls”. His senior path has taken him to Paris Saint-Germain and RB Leipzig and included a hugely successful loan at PSV Eindhoven. He can speak six languages and has recorded 63 goal contributions over the past three seasons.
The move came after a summer in which Tottenham showed clear ambition. The club opened business with West Ham United over Mohammed Kudus and pursued Forest captain Gibbs-White, only for Evangelos Marinakis to keep his skipper at the City Ground. Arsenal’s move for Eze under Daniel Levy’s nose, and the collapse of other targets, left Thomas Frank with a creative void after James Maddison’s ACL tear in Seoul and Dejan Kulusevski’s expected absence until the new year.
Chelsea were reported as rivals for Simons, a reminder of how often the Blues have targeted high-profile talent. The draft also recalled earlier Chelsea swings for Eden Hazard and Willian that Tottenham failed to convert. Still, BlueCo’s market activity allowed Spurs to sign Simons, a player who can be both a marketable face and a footballing solution.
Frank will ask Simons to add invention and unpredictability to an attack that has relied on Pape Matar Sarr’s pressing and Kudus’s ball retention. Simons is not an elite athlete, but he excels in transition and tight spaces and the manager has said he can “unlock defences”. The player himself sees the move as right for his development, calling Frank the “right coach” to advance a game defined by moments of magic.
For supporters, Simons’ unveiling offered a rare sense of uplift: a talent of this profile rarely ends up at Tottenham, and the club will now expect him to deliver both on and off the pitch.
Chelsea
Chelsea to recall Mamadou Sarr and loan Aarón Anselmino to Strasbourg
Chelsea will recall Mamadou Sarr from Strasbourg and send Aarón Anselmino there on loan. BlueCo move.
Chelsea will recall centre back Mamadou Sarr from his loan at Strasbourg, with the club preparing to send Aarón Anselmino to the French side on a six-month loan as part of the arrangement. Sarr is expected in London on Monday to finalise his return to Stamford Bridge.
Sarr joined Chelsea from Strasbourg in the summer in a deal worth £12 million and travelled with the Blues to the Club World Cup before returning to Strasbourg on a season-long loan to continue his development under Liam Rosenior. This season he has been used across Strasbourg’s defence, including in the central centre back role where Chelsea have struggled since Levi Colwill’s injury.
Enzo Maresca wanted a new signing to replace the injured academy graduate, but club officials initially sought to protect clear pathways for both Sarr and Anselmino. A U-turn earlier this month saw Chelsea acknowledge the need for a new central defender, though talks over Jacquet have proven complicated. Instead, the club looked internally for a solution.
Anselmino was recalled from Borussia Dortmund earlier this month in what was understood to be a move designed as a catalyst for Sarr’s eventual return. Sarr, 20, offers a lower-risk option for Chelsea; Rosenior has managed him for 44 matches over 18 months and is confident his skillset will translate to the Premier League.
BlueCo have attempted to ease tensions with Strasbourg by sending Anselmino, also 20, to France as the exchange. The Argentine began the season with the stronger reputation of the two players, but Sarr’s performances under Rosenior have raised his value.
While Sarr’s return represents a clear boost for Chelsea’s defensive options, it is unlikely to improve relations between Strasbourg supporters and BlueCo. Fans have protested at what they see as feeder club treatment, a stance compounded by the midseason loss of Rosenior. Losing the club captain, a player who fit Strasbourg well, is expected to be unpopular among a fanbase that already feels isolated and disregarded, though the move was described in the report as somewhat inevitable.
Chelsea
Late Enzo strike seals Chelsea’s 3-2 comeback against West Ham
Chelsea recovered from a poor first half to win 3-2, João Pedro, Cucurella and Enzo key. Late drama.
Chelsea overturned a poor first half to claim a vital 3-2 home win over West Ham United. A nervy opening left Stamford Bridge frustrated, but timely changes and second-half intensity produced a dramatic turnaround.
The match turned on substitutions. João Pedro, Marc Cucurella and Enzo Fernández each had decisive roles after the interval. João Pedro, introduced at half-time, “completely took over the game in the second half”, sparking the comeback with a goal and later providing the assist for Fernández’s stoppage-time winner. The report rates João Pedro 8.3 for his two goal contributions.
Enzo Fernández marked his 150th Chelsea appearance by crashing the box to score the decisive goal. The Argentine was described as dictating the game from deep and was rewarded at the death. He is given an 8.3 rating for his influence and the match-winning finish.
Marc Cucurella, brought on for Jorrel Hato at half-time, was credited with stopping further danger from Jarrod Bowen and scored the equaliser with instinctive movement. His performance earns an 8.1.
Chelsea’s issues were clear in the first half. Robert Sánchez produced a costly error from a Jarrod Bowen cross and was judged unable to deal with the opener; his rating is 6.0. Defensively the team was unsettled early, with Benoît Badiashile substituted at the break and the back line described as chaotic until the changes. Wesley Fofana (7.4) helped steady that defence and his cross led to Chelsea’s first goal.
Other incidents included Jamie Gittens leaving injured before the half-hour mark, replaced by Pedro Neto (6.7). Reece James had limited time after coming on late. The statistics underline Chelsea’s control: 70% possession, 14 total shots with six on target, and an expected goals (xG) of 2.55 to West Ham’s 1.12.
The result moves Rosenior’s side into the Champions League places for the night, a reward for a recovery that matched the hostility of the early boos with celebration at the final whistle.
Arsenal
Arteta clarifies Saka absence as Madueke steps into Cup spotlight
Arteta: Saka had a warm-up niggle; Madueke responded when called, with Chelsea tie on Tuesday. Read.
Mikel Arteta confirmed that Bukayo Saka was withdrawn from the squad for Saturday’s win over Leeds United after picking up “a little niggle” in the warm-up. The injury was the only notable setback on a positive day for Arsenal ahead of the second leg of their Carabao Cup semi-final against Chelsea.
“He wasn’t comfortable to start the game, so immediately we made a decision to make that change and bring Noni in,” Arteta said, explaining the decision to replace Saka before kick-off.
Squad depth on the right flank was a specific objective for the club during the summer transfer window. Arteta has been open about his intention to assemble multiple high-quality options in every position, and securing a reliable deputy for Saka was part of that plan.
Arsenal agreed a package worth as much as £52 million ($71.4 million) to sign Madueke from Chelsea, and circumstances provided an early opportunity when Saka was sidelined earlier in the season. While the headline goal-and-assist figures have not matched expectations, Madueke has “undoubtedly passed the eye test this season,” contributing when called upon.
Arteta praised the new arrival for his attitude and preparation. “The way he prepares, the way he’s waiting for opportunity, I think he paid off today because he really impacted the team,” the manager said, highlighting Madueke’s readiness to fill the role.
On the collective task, Arteta added: “We talked before the game, it’s going to be a long game, we’re going to have to navigate through different moments in the game, and we’re going to need everybody fulfilling the role that they have on the day, and I think the players executed that incredibly well.”
Madueke is the leading candidate to occupy the right wing when Arsenal face his former club on Tuesday, though Arteta’s squad contains several possible options for the position.
