For much of the past year, all signs pointed to Xavi Simons re-signing with Paris Saint-Germain. A multitude of reports during now-former club sporting director Leonardo’s run at PSG noted that Simons would eventually decide to stay put with the Ligue 1 side, but in the end, he elected for a move to PSV on a five-year free transfer deal.
Speaking to PSV’s official website, Simons touched on the decision to take his talents to PSV, where he noted that he aspired to pick a club where he could earn playing time minutes.
“I’m at a point in my career where I need to start making minutes,” Simons said. “That’s possible here. I’m ready and I want to prove myself.”
Simons featured in six total Ligue 1 matches this past season, which included a start as a winger in PSG’s 1-0 home win over Rennes. Even as there was much speculation that club prospects such as Simons would receive more playing time minutes after PSG officially clinched Ligue 1, this did not necessarily come to fruition. PSG manager Mauricio Pochettino provided the Dutch talent with a mere two appearances in the final two months of the Ligue 1 campaign.
Simons is set to join the likes of Cody Gakpo and Erick Gutierrez in PSV’s midfield unit next season.
