Xavi Simons Favors Chelsea as Blues Overtake Arsenal in Race

Chelsea have taken the lead over Arsenal in the transfer pursuit of Xavi Simons from Bundesliga club RB Leipzig, according to recent reports. Both Chelsea and Arsenal have been tracking Simons this summer, along with Bayern Munich, but the Blues are now in a strong position to secure his signature.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano has stated that Xavi Simons is ‘very keen’ on joining Chelsea and is drawn to the club’s vision, with Chelsea reportedly ‘pushing hard’ for a deal. RB Leipzig is asking for £60m to sell the Netherlands international, who has been described as ‘exceptional’ by Bayern Munich sporting director Christoph Freund.

However, there are indications that Chelsea might negotiate a deal for a lower fee after initiating direct communication with the player’s representatives. Talks between Chelsea and RB Leipzig are expected to commence on Tuesday, although the completion of any agreement is likely to hinge on outgoing transfers.

Arsenal, meanwhile, isn’t entirely out of the running yet. While Chelsea appears to be gaining momentum in negotiations after receiving ‘positive feedback’ from Xavi Simons, Arsenal remains interested in the player. They are still keen on bringing him in, even though their priority at the moment is to secure Sweden international striker Viktor Gyokeres from Sporting CP.

Xavi Simons has expressed a strong desire to leave RB Leipzig during this summer transfer window. The 22-year-old has made 76 appearances for the German side, contributing 21 goals and 23 assists. Originally from Amsterdam, he spent much of his youth career in Barcelona’s academy before moving to Paris Saint-Germain, where he made just 11 appearances before being loaned to RB Leipzig.

At RB Leipzig, Xavi Simons has flourished, leading to the club breaking their transfer record to sign him permanently in January 2025. Nevertheless, he communicated his intent to leave in May following the club’s failure to qualify for the Champions League. Recognized in the VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season in 2024, Simons is currently under contract with RB Leipzig until the summer of 2027. He has also earned 28 caps for the Netherlands, netting five goals for his national team, and was instrumental during his time at PSV Eindhoven in the 2022-23 season, where he helped them win the KNVB Cup and was jointly crowned top scorer in the Eredivisie.