Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons has enrolled in a prestigious business programme at Harvard University while continuing his recovery from a long-term knee injury.
The 23-year-old Netherlands playmaker has been sidelined since April after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament, an injury that ruled him out of the World Cup. To make productive use of his time on the sidelines, Simons has joined Harvard’s Crossover into Business programme, a specialized online course tailored for professional athletes looking to develop their commercial skills.
The unique course pairs elite athletes with Harvard MBA students, offering mentorship through practical case studies and the fundamentals of enterprise management.
“I’m going back to school,” Simons announced 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. 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.”
Simons recently traveled to the United States to step up his physical rehabilitation while visiting Harvard’s campus in Boston. “Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority,” he added. “At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football. Looking forward to getting started.”
Previous participants in the Crossover into Business programme have included high-profile athletes from the NBA, NFL, and tennis, such as former world number one and two-time major champion Victoria Azarenka. In football, Real Madrid midfielder Eduardo Camavinga previously took a short course at Harvard focusing on the business of entertainment, media, and sports, while former Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson took up a teaching position at the university in 2014 following his retirement.