Tottenham Hotspur playmaker Xavi Simons has been accepted onto Harvard Business School's Crossover Into Business Program as he continues his recovery from an ACL injury that is expected to keep him out until February 2027 at the earliest.
The program is described as a semester-long course in which professional athletes develop their business acumen by working with MBA student mentors, with the stated aim of making athletes "better prepared for business activities during and after their active sports careers."
Simons announced the news on LinkedIn. "I'm going back to school," he wrote. "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'm happy to share that I've been accepted onto the Crossover Into Business Program at Harvard Business School."
The Netherlands international missed the 2026 World Cup because of his knee injury but has spent time in the United States during his rehabilitation, including a visit to Boston, where he reconnected with Dutch-American economist and HBS professor Anita Elberse.
"We first met during my time at FC Barcelona, and later again at Paris Saint-Germain. We've stayed in touch over the years, so it was great to see her again and visit Harvard while I was in Boston," Simons said. "Getting back on the pitch is still my number one priority. At the same time, I want to use this period to keep learning and invest in myself beyond football."
Simons, 23, said he has "always been interested in more than just football" and wants to "understand the business side of the game better, learn from people in different industries and keep developing as a person."
The Crossover Into Business Program was launched nine years ago in partnership with the NBA, and its most notable graduate is 11-time NBA All-Star and two-time NBA champion Chris Bosh.
Other Footballers Who Moved Into Business
Several former players have built business careers after hanging up their boots. Edwin van der Sar, Simons's fellow Dutchman, joined Ajax as marketing director in 2012 before being promoted to CEO in 2016, overseeing the club's Champions League resurgence. David Beckham co-founded Inter Miami in 2018 and became the U.K.'s first billionaire sportsman in 2026. Gerard Pique, meanwhile, is building a multi-club empire with teams across Spain's soccer pyramid alongside other interests in sports and media.
