Chelsea Close In on Xavi Simons as Dutch Star Gives Green Light to Stamford Bridge Move

Chelsea have taken a significant step toward signing RB Leipzig’s Xavi Simons after the Dutch midfielder agreed to personal terms and expressed his desire to join the Blues. The 22-year-old, who scored 11 goals and provided 8 assists last season, is seen as a perfect fit for Enzo Maresca’s system, with Leipzig now willing to negotiate a deal in the range of €60-70 million. Simons’ dissatisfaction with Leipzig’s failure to qualify for European football has accelerated the move, and Chelsea’s Champions League status gives them an edge over Arsenal, who remain interested but are prioritizing other targets. The Blues are expected to finalize the transfer once they offload fringe attackers, including Christopher Nkunku and João Félix, to comply with financial regulations.

While Chelsea lead the race, Arsenal are monitoring Simons’ situation closely and could pounce if negotiations stall. The Gunners, however, are focused on signing Viktor Gyökeres, leaving Chelsea as the frontrunners for the versatile Dutchman. Leipzig, keen to recoup most of their €50 million investment, are open to structured payments, with talks between the clubs set to intensify this week. Should the deal go through, Simons would add creativity and goal threat to Chelsea’s attack, joining recent arrivals João Pedro and Liam Delap in a revamped frontline. An official announcement could come before August if Chelsea clear squad space, marking another statement signing in their ambitious summer rebuild.
Sources: Fabrizio Romano, The Athletic, Sky Sports.