It’s wild out there in the football world right now, especially if you’ve been following the buzz around Xavi Simons to Chelsea. The Dutch creative midfielder—now with RB Leipzig—is smack in the middle of one of this summer’s most dramatic sagas. Let me walk you through why everyone’s talking about a possible £68 million switch to Chelsea Even Manchester City may still enter to try their luck and negotiate.
Who is Xavi Simons? Why is Chelsea interested?
Xavi Simons joined FC Barcelona’s La Masia academy and was considered one of their top prospects. In 2019, he moved to PSG. He made his senior debut in 2021 but struggled for regular minutes due to the star-studded squad.
In summer 2022, Simons joined PSV on a free transfer. He became a key player, scoring 19 Eredivisie goals in 2022/23 and finishing as the league’s joint-top scorer.
PSG exercised a buy-back clause in 2023 but loaned him to RB Leipzig in the Bundesliga. At Leipzig, he impressed with his creativity, dribbling, and work rate, establishing himself as one of Europe’s brightest young midfielders.
International Career: Simons represented the Netherlands at youth levels and made his senior debut in 2022.
1. What’s the Situation Right Now?
Simons has already agreed personal terms with Chelsea. That means he and his camp are on board financially and want the move to happen. But here’s the thing: Leipzig won’t budge on price. They want roughly €70 million, about £60 million or more, while Chelsea hoped to pay slightly less.
Leipzig’s sporting director even made it clear: “If nothing changes, Xavi stays put.” That’s a huge roadblock.
🚨⚠️ RB Leipzig director Schafer: “Xavi Simons is still with us. But the market is still open, you never know what might happen”, told @SkySportDe.
“Xavi has expressed his ambitions to us”, as his clear plan remains to join Chelsea before Deadline Day. 🔵🔜 pic.twitter.com/dAdi9NLK1b
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) August 23, 2025
2. The £68 Million Twist
So where does the £68 million figure come into play? It seems to reflect the latest valuation, including add-ons and structure tweaks—pushing total cost closer to €80 million depending on performance bonuses. In pounds, that edges near £68 million, hence all the headlines about that “huge twist” rattling the transfer talk.
3. Manchester City Could Hijack the Deal
Now, here’s a plot twist. Manchester City are reportedly eyeing Simons too—just as Chelsea seemed to be getting their move locked in. They could swoop in and hijack the deal, especially since negotiations between Chelsea and Leipzig haven’t wrapped up yet. That adds a sense of urgency to the drama.
4. Chelsea’s Balancing Act
Chelsea are under pressure to sell players to fund this deal, especially as they need to comply with UEFA rules and maintain a balanced squad. Christopher Nkunku and Nicolas Jackson have been mentioned in connection with potential departures. In fact, there’s talk of a swap deal—Nkunku (or even young winger Tyrique George) back to Leipzig, packaged into any Simons agreement.
5. What’s Likely to Happen Next?
Chelsea needs to raise their offer—pushing close to or above that €70 million mark. Simons prefers Chelsea, reportedly pushing for the move. Manchester City’s interest could accelerate talks or trigger a bidding war .
Nkunku or George could be crucial to the deal—either in part exchange or to lighten squad pressure.
Author’s Insight: Summary
Xavi Simons wants the move, Chelsea wants him too strongly, but Leipzig holds the power—with a high price tag. The £68 million twist reflects rising valuations, possible bonuses, and structured terms. City is lurking in the shadows which adds drama and urgency in the deal.
Fans watching on social media catch every clue and turn them into headlines.
Chelsea must manage outgoing players to afford the incoming talent and satisfy financial fair play standards.
So, if you’re Team Chelsea, you’re certainly excited—but also nervous. The deal looks close, but in transfer windows, close isn’t always closed. Xavi’s interest in Chelsea may make the deal easy for the Blues. Let’s keep watching things could still shift at the last minute.