Tottenham's Xavi Simons joins Harvard course during ACL recovery
October 9, 2026 01:10
The 23-year-old Netherlands playmaker ruptured his anterior cruciate ligament in April and missed the World Cup. He scored five times for Tottenham last season.
WHAT THE COURSE IS
The Crossover into Business programme is an external, athlete-focused Harvard course that pairs professional sportspeople with Harvard MBA students to work through practical case studies and enterprise management. Previous participants have included athletes from the NBA, NFL and tennis, among them former world number one Victoria Azarenka.
SIMONS' REASONS
Simons said he wanted to use his recovery period productively: "During my recovery, I've been trying to use my time in the best way possible. Football is still my main focus, but I also want to keep learning and improving away from the pitch. "I've always been interested in more than just football. I want to understand the business side of the game better, learn from people in different industries and keep developing as a person."
He recently travelled to the United States to step up his physical rehabilitation and visited Harvard's campus in Boston.
CONTEXT
The programme follows other football figures who have taken short courses at Harvard; in June, Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga took a short course in the 'business of entertainment, media and sports'. In 2014, former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson accepted a long-term teaching position at the university after retiring.
LOOKING AHEAD
Simons reiterated that returning to play remains his priority: "Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority. At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football. Looking forward to getting started."