Xavi Simons: Tottenham debut delayed by work permit clearance

Xavi Simons has completed a €60 million (£52 million, $70 million) move to Tottenham Hotspur, but the Netherlands international must wait for his work permit and international clearance before making his first appearance. Tottenham confirmed the transfer on August 29, 2025, and said the deal remains subject to the standard approvals.

Because the Premier League requires registration by midday the day before a match, and Simons signed after that cutoff, he will not feature against Bournemouth on August 30. The club plans to introduce him to supporters at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium before kickoff, though he is not eligible to play until the administrative process finishes.

Current status and expected timeline

As of Thursday, Tottenham and the relevant authorities were still processing the required approvals. Club officials have not given a firm completion date, but internal expectations point toward sign-off before mid-September.

• If the work permit clears in time, the earliest realistic competitive debut is the away match at West Ham United on September 13, 2025.
• That target aligns with the international break, which typically gives clubs and leagues a small window to finalize paperwork without missing additional fixtures.

Important: Simons is fully signed and will be presented to fans, but he cannot play until the GBE, Home Office visa, and Premier League registration are all complete.

Player profile and squad role

The transfer brings one of Europe’s most highly rated young attacking players to north London.

• Age: 22
• National team: 28 caps for the Netherlands
• Previous club: RB Leipzig — 22 goals and 22 assists in 78 appearances
• Former clubs include Barcelona, PSG, and PSV Eindhoven

Simons is seen inside Tottenham as a fast, creative option who can operate as a No. 10 or from the left. Head coach Thomas Frank praised his versatility and top-flight experience, noting the fit with the team’s style and immediate needs—especially with James Maddison and Dejan Kulusevski sidelined. Simons will wear the number 7 shirt, most recently held by Son Heung-min.

Why the debut is on hold

Under post-Brexit rules, all non-UK players must receive a work permit based on a points-based system. Points are awarded for factors such as:

• recent international appearances,
• the quality of the player’s previous league,
• minutes played,
• the size of the transfer.

For high-profile internationals like Simons, approval is generally expected, but the approval process requires sequential steps that cannot be fast-tracked by the club alone.

The approval sequence (simplified)

1. Tottenham submit a work permit application with supporting evidence (international caps, club performance data).
2. The Premier League and The FA assess Governing Body Endorsement (GBE) criteria for elite professional footballers.
3. Once the GBE is issued, the UK Home Office reviews the visa portion and authorizes the player’s right to work.
4. After final approval, the Premier League completes registration, enabling match eligibility.

In practical terms, these approvals often take several days but can stretch longer if the Home Office requests extra documents or faces an administrative backlog.

What the rules require, in plain terms

• The Premier League’s registration rule is straightforward: a player must be registered by midday the day before a match to be eligible. Because Simons signed after that deadline for Bournemouth, he cannot be added to the squad list for that game.
• The GBE review typically focuses on objective playing criteria. For players who do not automatically meet those criteria, a points calculation and, in some cases, a panel assessment may apply.
• Once the GBE is in hand, the Home Office issues the visa that gives the right to work as a professional footballer in the UK. The relevant category is the International Sportsperson route.

For authoritative guidance on eligibility and application steps, see the UK Home Office page for the International Sportsperson visa at https://www.gov.uk/international-sportsperson-visa.

Practical implications for club, player, and fans

• Tottenham can present Simons to supporters, integrate him into training, and continue off-field duties such as media work.
• Match minutes remain off-limits until the permission to work and final Premier League registration are confirmed.

The delay is frustrating for the player after a big move and public unveiling, but it is common in late-summer transfers. Many signings across the league face similar waiting periods tied to the calendar and the Premier League’s midday deadline.

On-field and squad implications

• Immediate impact: Tottenham cannot call on Simons against Bournemouth; coaching staff must prepare match plans without him.
• Upside: The international break provides time to blend him into tactical sessions, build chemistry, and prepare for a likely mid-September introduction.
• Long-term: Internally, he is viewed as a major addition for the 2025/26 campaign with importance for domestic matches and European fixtures later in the year.

Wider context and analysis

Tottenham’s announcement caps a busy summer with multiple senior additions. Several analysts framed the deal as a statement of ambition given the fee and competition from rivals. UK media noted Tottenham moved quickly once terms were in place, even as the work permit timeline created an unavoidable delay.

According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the combination of Simons’ national team record, transfer value, and experience in top European competitions fits the profile that typically clears the UK’s points-based system promptly—though processing times can still vary.

VisaVerge.com reports that similar late-window transfers last season typically resolved within a week to ten days, though each case depends on the Home Office’s workload and the completeness of the club’s submission.

Final takeaway

• The player is signed and will be publicly presented to fans.
• The club and authorities are processing the GBE and visa.
• The Premier League will register him as soon as approvals are in place.

Barring requests for extra documents or an unexpected pause, mid-September remains the sensible marker for a debut. For Tottenham and for Simons, the current focus is on preparation: fitness, tactics, and a smooth first appearance once the green light arrives.

For official updates and match eligibility details, see Tottenham’s website at https://www.tottenhamhotspur.com and the Premier League at https://www.premierleague.com.