The young Dutch player, an attacking midfielder who can also function as a winger, spent most of his developmental years at FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy before a controversial transfer to Paris Saint-Germain, where he made his senior debut.
No Champions League, no celebration
A stint at PSV preceded a loan to RB Leipzig before signing permanently with the Bundesliga team on January 30, 2025.
However, just a few months later, the player reportedly told the club he no longer wanted to play for them due to their failure to qualify for the Champions League, initiating one of the more unusual transfer stories of the summer.
Reports from Spain have indicated that Barcelona's sporting director, Deco, spent 45 minutes meeting with the player's representatives, including his brother.
Considering Leipzig's €70 million asking price for the player, unless the Catalan club has some hidden strategy, it would be quite challenging for them to raise that amount given their financial limitations.
Too many midfielders at Barca already?
One could also argue that with players like Fermin Lopez, Frenkie De Jong and Dani Olmo, the club already has sufficient attacking midfielders.
Adding in Pedri, Gavi, Marc Bernal and Marc Casado means there isn't an available spot in the midfield, unless Hansi Flick is considering alternative formations.
Yet, it is believed that the player has always aimed to return to the club that developed him, so perhaps a swap deal could be a possibility.
Despite the midfield congestion, Barcelona's interest remains understandable.
Barcelona's interest is understandable
First and foremost, being a La Masia alumnus would almost certainly mean there would be no adjustment period regarding adaptation to a specific style—the 'Barca way,' if you will.
Moreover, he has a versatility that could be extremely advantageous for the club, and his dynamism in possession, along with his ability to create opportunities, is well recognized.
A player who enjoys operating between the defensive lines, his skill set makes him a challenging opponent when in full flow and in possession of the ball. Not to mention his incredible speed when opportunities arise.
With Barcelona appearing sluggish at times during the 2024/25 season, the pace thatSimons would introduce could be exactly what Flick is seeking.
Outstanding passing and defensive statistics
As one might expect from a Dutch player emerging from Barcelona, his passing statistics are consistently impressive.
In 2024/25, his 553 passes that reached the final third were over 200 more than any other player in the Leipzig squad.
An 83% accuracy could use some minor adjustments, but one shouldn't be overly critical of the player considering he was often the focal point of his team.
He was one of only three players to start every match he was selected for at Leipzig last season, so there is clearly no doubt regarding his reliability or his defensive qualities.
Frequently praised for his offensive contributions, the effort he puts into supporting his defense is often overlooked.
His 76.7% tackle success rate is only slightly lower than Ridle Baku’s 77.4%, resulting from just one additional tackle attempted. Simons lost possession seven times from 30 tackles made, while Baku's 31 attempts give him a slight statistical advantage.
Eight assists and 11 goals
He recorded eight assists during the season, which was also the highest in the squad, along with his 60 chances created. Adding in his 11 goals (only Lois Openda and Benjamin Sesko scored more), along with his in-game intelligence and the expected seamless integration into the squad, it is hard to argue against Barcelona making a move.
Openda and Sesko are also the only two players with more fast breaks than Simons' nine from last season.
This ability to navigate quickly through a crowded midfield is something Barcelona has been lacking for a while, and with set-piece execution becoming a feature of Hansi Flick's team, having a player with a free-kick xG of 0.30 would undoubtedly be beneficial.
Xavi Simons meets all the criteria... but Barca doesn’t need extra coverage
A tenacious player who also received six yellow cards last season, he needs the freedom to control the game for his team, and that might be the one concern, aside from financial issues, that will have the Barcelona management scrutinizing the details more carefully than usual.
He is the right age, possesses the right mentality and skill set; however, all aspects of his game can be covered by players already present, and Barcelona is not yet in a position to purchase players just for the sake of it.
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