Spurs' Simons enrols at iconic university Harvard

What the report says

Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons has enrolled in a Harvard University programme while recovering from a long-term knee injury, BBC Sport Football reported. The 23-year-old Netherlands international has been sidelined since rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in April, an setback that kept him out of the World Cup and has delayed his return to action.

According to the BBC, Simons has joined Harvard’s Crossover into Business course, an online programme aimed at professional athletes who want to build commercial and leadership skills. The course connects athletes with Harvard MBA students and uses practical case studies focused on enterprise management. Simons said on LinkedIn that he is using his recovery period to keep learning, while stressing that football remains his main priority.

The report said Simons also travelled to the United States to continue rehabilitation and visited Harvard’s Boston campus. The move fits a broader pattern of elite athletes taking short business-focused courses while away from competition. BBC Sport noted that previous participants have included athletes from other sports, and that Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga completed a Harvard course earlier this year. The development is notable because it shows Simons combining injury recovery with off-pitch preparation for life beyond the game.