Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons has enrolled on a course at Harvard University as he continues his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
The 23-year-old Netherlands playmaker has joined Harvard’s Crossover into Business programme, a course tailored for professional athletes to develop their commercial skills. The online course pairs athletes with Harvard MBA students, who mentor them through practical case studies and enterprise management.
Simons has been sidelined since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in April, an injury that forced him to miss the World Cup. He recently travelled to the United States to step up his physical rehabilitation, a trip that also took him to Harvard’s campus in Boston.
The midfielder announced the move himself on LinkedIn, describing his intention to make productive use of the time away from the pitch. “I’m going back to school,” he wrote. “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.”
Simons was clear that his return to playing remains the priority, while explaining his reasons for taking on the course. “Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority,” he added. “At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football. Looking forward to getting started.”
He scored five times for Tottenham last season.