Xavi Simons named compatriot Jeremie Frimpong as the player he is most looking forward to facing in the Premier League.
Simons completed a transfer from RB Leipzig to Tottenham this week, with Spurs acting fast to recruit the attacker after missing out on Eberechi Eze to Arsenal.
The former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star has signed a five-year deal in North London, after Spurs agreed to pay Leipzig around $70 million for the youngster. There are a lot of Dutch players in the Premier League — with many of them at Liverpool — and Simons is excited to test himself against friend Frimpong.
“Which Premier League player are you most excited to face?” Simons was asked by Spurs media. “My friend, Jeremie Frimpong,” Simons responded.
Simons and Frimpong have been part of the Dutch set-up for years, and the Spurs new boy congratulated Frimpong on his move to Anfield earlier in the summer.
Commenting on a post which showed Frimpong going through his media commitments when signing for Liverpool from Bayer Levekrusen, Simons simply wrote: "Deserved."
Simons had been linked with a move to Liverpool, but those links never went beyond the speculation stage, and it was clear for several weeks that he was likely to move to a club in London.
Many expected that club to be Chelsea, but Tottenham accelerated its interested in Simons in recent days and convinced him to move there instead.
Xavi Simons and Jeremie Frimpong are Netherlands teammates
Xavi Simons and Jeremie Frimpong are Netherlands teammates (Image: ANP)
"I'm really happy and can't wait to get going. I've been dreaming of this for a long time," Simons said. "It's a great club and when I met the head coach I knew straight away that this was the right place for me.
"I will bring flair to the team but also hard work and discipline. I want to do everything I can to win, for the team and also for the fans."
Spurs boss Thomas Frank, meanwhile, said: “I’m really pleased we have brought Xavi in - he is a great addition to the squad.
“He is still young, however he already has good experience and, over the past few years, has played a lot of games at the top level.
“Xavi has proven his ability to get goals and assists, both from the number 10 position and left-wing. He also has a great eye for his team-mates in terms of unlocking defences, and I know he will come in and be part of a good team that is already working hard together.”