Xavi Simons Starts Harvard Course During Tottenham Injury Rehab
Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Xavi Simons has begun an online Harvard Business School course while continuing his rehabilitation from a serious knee injury.
Why it matters for Tottenham
The Netherlands international remains unavailable after suffering an ACL tear during the closing weeks of last season, a period in which Spurs narrowly stayed in the Premier League. His return date has not been set and he is not expected to be ready for competitive football before the start of 2027.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Player | Xavi Simons, 23 |
| Injury | ACL tear |
| Expected availability | No earlier than the beginning of 2027 |
| Course | Harvard Business School Crossover Into Business Program |
| Next Tottenham fixture | Manchester United, Saturday |
Simons announced that he had been accepted on to Harvard Business School’s Crossover Into Business Program, an online course that brings professional athletes together with HBS MBA students to study business.
“I’m returning to education,” Simons wrote, explaining that he wanted to make productive use of his recovery period. He stressed that football remains his primary concern, while adding that he wants to broaden his knowledge away from the field.
The midfielder said he has long held interests beyond the game and hopes the programme will help him better understand football’s commercial side, learn from people in other sectors and continue his development personally.
He has spent recent weeks in the United States during his recovery, visiting both coasts and meeting people in different professional environments. Simons also posted images of time spent with basketball player Jay Tatum and of his attendance at USC’s college football game against Oregon.
His place on the Harvard course carries a personal connection. Simons said he first met Professor Anita Elberse during his time at Barcelona and saw her again while he was at Paris Saint-Germain. The pair have remained in contact, and Simons visited Harvard during a stay in Boston.
The programme has previously been delivered to at least 20 athletes from the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLS, NWSL and UFC.
Tottenham will face Manchester United in the Premier League on Saturday, but Simons’ attention remains split between his long-term recovery and the academic programme.
Return date remains uncertain
Spurs have no confirmed timetable for Simons’ return beyond the expectation that he will not be match fit until at least early 2027.
