Bola.net – Xavi Simons made a surprise by choosing Tottenham, even though Chelsea had been eyeing him for a long time. The Dutch player finally joined Spurs in the final seconds of the transfer window.
This decision confirmed that Spurs are now starting to rival Chelsea in the race for talented players. This transfer also adds to the club’s appeal to young and talented players.
Simons is not the only one who refused Chelsea. There are five other names who also chose Tottenham, adding to the list of shocking players who avoided the Blues.
This player’s choice shows a change in the transfer landscape in North London. Tottenham began to build a reputation as a competitive club in recruiting quality players.
For Spurs fans, these six players give new hope for the coming season. As for Chelsea, loss of talents is a signal to improve their transfer strategy.
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1. Xavi Simons
Moment of celebration Xavi Simons after scoring in the Dutch vs Malta match, 2026 European Zone World Cup qualifiers (C) KNVB Official
Tottenham Hotspur officially got Xavi Simons from RB Leipzig. This Dutch player was in demand by Chelsea, but Spurs managed to complete the agreement first.
Simons will occupy the main position in the team, according to the role offered by Tottenham. Before the official announcement, he had undergone a medical examination as part of the transfer process.
This announcement was welcomed by Spurs fans. The success of recruiting Simons repeats important momentum for the club, as happened in the case of Willian.
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2. Danny Rose
Danny Rose (c) AP Photo
Danny Rose began his football journey at Leeds United when he was 11 years old. At the age of 16, he moved to Tottenham Hotspur to pursue a more serious career.
Rose claimed to have difficulty understanding the game and basic techniques at the beginning of training. However, slowly he developed and became a mainstay player in the Leeds young team before moving to Spurs.
His decision rejected Chelsea and chose Tottenham to produce sweet results. Rose appeared extraordinary, scored a memorable goal in the North London Derby and made more than 200 appearances for the club.
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3. Steven Pienaar
Steven Pienaar (C) AFP
Steven Pienaar officially moved to Tottenham Hotspur in January 2011 at a cost of £ 3 million. Although Chelsea have also reached an agreement with Everton, the final decision remains in Pienaar.
He explained that his motivation was the ambition to play at the highest level and the Champions League, not money. Pienaar followed his conscience and felt Tottenham was the right answer.
However, his career in Spurs did not match expectations. After performing a little in the first six months, he decided to return to Everton.
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4. Brennan Johnson
Action Brennan Johnson in the match Man City vs Tottenham in the 3rd week of the Premier League 2025/2026 (C) AP Photo/Dave Thompson
Chelsea is touted as one of the clubs that seriously hunts Brennan Johnson’s signature in the summer of 2023. This is natural considering their strategy at that time focused on recruiting talented young wings.
Even so, Johnson actually chose to join Tottenham Hotspur. Chelsea then strengthened their attack line by bringing Nkunku, Jackson, and Palmer.
The reason Johnson chose Spurs was to get more playing time. He considers the Chelsea squad to be too dense to be able to develop optimally.
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5. Mohammed Kudus
Tottenham striker, Mohammed Kudus (middle) made a header in the UEFA Super Cup match against PSG, August 14, 2025. (C) Massimo Paolone/Lapresse via AP
Mohammed Kudus became the target of Chelsea who was willing to offer Kernan Dewsbury-Hall plus an additional £ 20 million. This Ghana player is open to move to Stamford Bridge and has agreed on personal contracts.
Tottenham actually won the competition with quick and firm steps. Their strategy made Kudus chose to join the Spurs rather than Chelsea.
The question also arises whether Chelsea will succeed if a similar approach is applied to other players such as Gibbs-White or Maddison. Spurs decisions show the importance of speed and determination in the transfer.
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6. James Maddison
James Maddison scored for Tottenham in the 12th week of the Premier League 2024/2025 against Man City (C) AP Photo/Dave Thompson
James Maddison is said to be one of Chelsea’s main targets in their rebuild project in the Boehly era. The West London club spent large funds, but Maddison remained a major concern in the transfer market.
Chelsea reportedly prioritized young players, so they chose Cole Palmer to Maddison. This strategy seems to emphasize focus on the age of under 25 years.
However, the latest report said Maddison would more like to move to Spurs. The choice of this player is one of the reasons Chelsea missed the opportunity to get Maddison.
Sumber: Planet Football
