Tottenham Hotspur's Xavi Simons has revealed he has enrolled for an online course at Harvard Business School.
Simons, 23, said in a post on LinkedIn that he had been accepted onto the Crossover Into Business Program at the graduate business school of the Ivy League university in the United States.
The Netherlands international is currently recovering from an ACL tear suffered during the run-in at the end of last season when Spurs narrowly avoided being relegated from the Premier League.
A timeline for Simons' return to action is unclear, but he is not expected to be match fit until at least the beginning of 2027.
He has been spending time in the U.S. while rehabilitating, posting photos on Instagram of him with basketball star Jay Tatum and watching a USC vs. Oregon college football game.
The Harvard Business School website says it has delivered the Crossover Into Business course to at least 20 athletes from the NBA, WNBA, NFL, MLS, NWSL and the UFC.
Xavi Simons was also present at the Boston Bruins' preseason game against the Washington Capitals in September. China Wong/NHLI via Getty Images "I'm going back to school," Simons wrote in the post.
"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. It's an online program where professional athletes learn more about business alongside HBS MBA students.
"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.
"Over the last few weeks, I've spent time on both the East Coast and West Coast in the U.S., meeting new people and seeing different ways of working. It's given me a lot of new ideas. It also makes this experience extra special because of 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.
"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."