Simons studies at Harvard during knee rehab
Tottenham's Xavi Simons has started a business program at Harvard while he recovers from a serious knee injury. The Netherlands midfielder has been out since April after tearing his ACL, which also caused him to miss the World Cup. He said football remains his main focus but he wants to learn about the business side of the sport and grow personally.
Xavi Simons, a 23-year-old Netherlands midfielder with Tottenham, has joined Harvard's Crossover into Business programme. The online course is designed for professional athletes and connects them with MBA students who guide them through practical case work and business management.
Simons has been out since tearing his ACL in April, which also caused him to miss the World Cup. He recently travelled to the United States for rehabilitation and visited Harvard's Boston campus. Past participants include athletes from the NBA, NFL and tennis, such as Victoria Azarenka.
Simons's move may signal to young athletes that education and career development can continue alongside injury recovery. Fans, clubs and sponsors could see a more business-literate generation of players, while universities may strengthen ties with sport. For injured athletes, it may offer a visible example of using downtime for personal growth, though it does not replace rehabilitation or guarantee success after football.