Tottenham Hotspur attacker Xavi Simons has enrolled in an online business course at Harvard University in the United States while continuing his long-term recovery from a torn anterior cruciate ligament, according to reports published by El Periódico.
Knee Injury Forces Time Away From the Pitch
The 23-year-old Netherlands playmaker has been sidelined since April, when he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament in his knee. The severe injury ruled him out of the World Cup and forced him to miss the start of the current football season. Rather than remaining entirely inactive during his rehabilitation, Simons chose to invest his time in professional development away from the sport.
Enrolment in the Crossover into Business Programme
Simons joined Harvard’s Crossover into Business programme, an initiative specifically tailored for professional athletes looking to refine their commercial skills. The online course pairs participants with Harvard Master of Business Administration students, who serve as mentors through practical case studies and enterprise management exercises. During a recent trip to the United States to advance his physical rehabilitation, the player visited Harvard’s campus in Boston.
Simons Returns to School to Study Commercial Industry
Simons addressed his followers on social media regarding his return to education. “I’m going back to school,” Simons wrote on LinkedIn. “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.” He added that he has always maintained interests outside of athletics and wants to understand the commercial side of the industry more thoroughly.
Precedents Set by Other Elite Athletes
Simons is not the first high-profile professional athlete to take part in academic programmes at Harvard during a career interruption. Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga completed a short course at the university focusing on the business of entertainment, media, and sports in June after missing out on France’s World Cup squad. Other notable participants in Harvard sports business initiatives include tennis player Victoria Azarenka, a two-time major champion and former world number one, alongside various athletes from the NBA and the NFL.
Timeline of Recovery and Next Steps
While undertaking his studies, Simons maintains that his primary objective remains returning to full fitness. The midfielder stated that getting back on the pitch is his number one priority, though he intends to continue his education concurrently. No definitive date has been announced by Tottenham Hotspur for his return to competitive team training.
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