PSG brought Xavi Simons, one of the exciting talents from Barcelona, to PSG in 2019. After winning the Ligue 1 title with the French giants in 2021–22, the player was sold to Dutch club PSV Eindhoven for more game time. PSG included a buy-back clause in his contract and triggered it after just one season.
Simons caught the eye of many and was sensational in his first season in his native country. The Dutchman helped his side win the KNVB Cup. PSG did a lot of transfer business in the summer. They knew that Simons was still young and would struggle for game time, so they decided to loan him out. Bundesliga giants RB Leipzig decided to take this youngster on loan, and this is turning out to be one of the best moves of the summer. Let’s take a look at the stats of the player that show how this is a breakthrough season for him.
Impressive start in the Bundesliga
Xavi Simons is an attacking midfielder who has also won six international caps for his country. He has made an impressive start for RB Leipzig. After failing to make an impact in the first match, the youngster scored twice and assisted three times in the next two matches. His heatmap shows that the player likes to attack from the right side but can also take position on the opposition’s flank as well.
The 20-year-old has attempted five shots in the campaign and all came from different angles. One thing that can be noticed is that Simons has targeted the centre and on the keeper’s left to convert the chances.
What else can his new side expect?
Xavi Simons was exceptional for PSV in 2022-23. He played 46 games in all competitions for the Dutch club and scored 21 goals. The youngster also created 11 goals for his teammates.
The above visual shows all 90 shots attempted by the player in the Eredivisie. It can be observed that Simons targets a similar zone, which is the centre of the goal. Only a couple of shots have found the corner of the net. Simons’ scoring positions have also been from the centre of the box.
With three assists already to his name, Simons can easily match the tally he produced last season. The player found his teammate with a few short passes. His creativity is what makes him one of the biggest talents at such a young age.
The 20-year-old also has the ability to draw fouls and win set-pieces for his team. In the last season, the player won 76 games, including three penalties. This season, he has already won five fouls for his team.
Xavi Simons is playing in one of the most competitive leagues in the world. He is a talented youngster and an upcoming name in the world of football. The player will look to impress everyone and cement his place in PSG’s squad next season.
Visuals via TFA data viz engine