XAVI SIMONS poked fun at the Chelsea “noise” surrounding him this summer – insisting all that mattered is that when Spurs called, he answered.
The Dutchman, 22, has completed a £51.8million move plus add-ons from RB Leipzig to Tottenham, signing a deal until 2030 with an option of a further two years.
It followed months of talk of a switch to Stamford Bridge, which had Spurs fans worried they would be gazumped by their West London rivals at the last minute.
Simons, whose trademark goal celebration involves him pretending to answer a phone, said: “Noise? Don’t listen to it all. Only what matters Tottenham called and I answered.”
The signing of former Barcelona and Paris Saint-Germain star ends Thomas Frank’s pursuit for a new No10, having missed out on Morgan Gibbs-White and Eberechi Eze earlier this summer.
Simons added: “I’m really happy and can’t wait to get going. I’ve been dreaming of this for a long time.
“It’s a great club and when I met the head coach I knew straight away that this was the right place for me.
“I will bring flair to the team but also hard work and discipline. I want to do everything I can to win, for the team and also for the fans.”
Simons signed after the 12pm deadline on Friday, meaning he will not be involved at home to Bournemouth on Saturday, while he is still awaiting his work permit.
The 28-cap Netherlands star will be introduced to his new fanbase before kick-off at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
A delighted Thomas Frank added: “I’m really pleased we have brought Xavi in – he is a great addition to the squad.
“He is still young, however he already has good experience and, over the past few years, has played a lot of games at the top level.
“Xavi has proven his ability to get goals and assists, both from the number 10 position and left-wing.
“He also has a great eye for his team-mates in terms of unlocking defences, and I know he will come in and be part of a good team that is already working hard together.”
Leipzig are now expected to pursue Liverpool’s Harvey Elliott as Simons’ replacement.
The Bundesliga side’s managing director Marcel Schafer added: “His time at RB Leipzig is a testament to what our clubs stands for: supporting and developing young, highly-talented players on their journey.
“He arrived as an exceptional talent and has developed into one of the best attacking players in Europe, and with his playing skills, he has been a pillar of our team.
“We thank Xavi for his commitment and wish him all the best in his new challenge at Tottenham.”
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