Tottenham midfielder Xavi Simons has enrolled in a course at the prestigious US university Harvard as he continues to recover from a long-term knee injury.

The 23-year-old Dutch playmaker has been sidelined since tearing his ACL in April—an injury that also cost him the chance to play at the World Cup.

Simons is now using the time to take part in Harvard’s “Crossover into Business” programme, a course designed specifically to help professional athletes develop their business skills.

The online course pairs athletes with Harvard MBA students as mentors, guiding them through practical case studies and business management. “I’m going back to school,” Simons recently wrote on LinkedIn.

His post also read: “During my recovery, I’ve tried to make the best possible use of my time. Football remains my top priority, but I also want to keep learning and improving off the pitch. I’ve always been interested in more than just football. I want to better understand the business side of sport, learn from people across different industries and grow as a person.”

Simons recently travelled to the US to continue his physical rehabilitation and visit Harvard’s campus in Boston. “Getting back on the pitch remains my number one priority,” Simons added.

“At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football. I’m looking forward to getting started,” he concluded.

Previous participants in the “Crossover into Business” programme have included professionals from the NBA, NFL and tennis—including former world number one and two-time Grand Slam champion Victoria Azarenka.

From a tactical formation and squad depth perspective, "Back to school? Former Bundesliga star is now a Harvard student" carries substantial tournament implications for international seeding and domestic campaign momentum. Coaching staffs are heavily weighing high-pressing efficiency (PPDA), defensive transition pace, and fixture fatigue management.

Tactical analysts monitoring Champions League metrics emphasize that squad adaptability and set-piece execution will likely dictate outcomes in high-leverage knockout environments. Real-time match telemetry and tracking data continue to inform managerial decision-making.

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