Just when you thought you couldn't adore Micky van de Ven any more.
Tottenham's road-runner in defence is one of a kind, and he's established himself as one of Europe's best when his hamstrings allow it. Van de Ven’s imperious speed has proven to be a blessing as much as a curse in north London, but there's no denying that his ability to go from 0-60 in the blink of an eye is what makes him so special.
I'm sure there's nobody in the game who our supporters would trade him for, and one of our exciting new arrivals has revealed that the Dutchman had a role to play in shaping their future.
It seems that Xavi Simons consulted Van de Ven when Spurs jumped ahead of Chelsea in the queue for his desperately-needed services, and the defender did what was necessary to get Simons to N17.
How Micky van de Ven convinced Xavi Simons to join Tottenham
Tottenham were panicking in their pursuit of a playmaker. Morgan Gibbs-White succumbed to Evangelos Marinakis' iron fist, Eberechi Eze opted for Gooner cringe, while Nico Paz was an ambitious move too far.
Continuing the 2025/26 season without James Maddison mitigation would've been nothing short of fatal for Thomas Frank at the start of his tenure. Fortunately, the club stumbled their way to a gem, convincing Simons, who had his heart set on Chelsea all summer, to come around to the idea of superstardom in the less prim and proper north of the capital.
Simons has the makings of a majestic coup for Frank's Lilywhites. He's a player with face of the franchise potential after Son Heung-min's exit, while also filling a distinct tactical need on-field.
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman on Xavi Simons choosing to sign for #thfc this summer: "In June, he already outlined his options and wishes to me. Last week, he told me it had become Tottenham Hotspur. A fantastic club for him. You always have to wait and see, of course, but…
— Hotspur Related (@HotspurRelated) September 2, 2025
Our newest Dutch star has since reported for international duty, where he'll team-up with club mate Van de Ven ahead of a pair of World Cup qualifiers. The pair have represented their country together on multiple occasions, with Simons earning 28 Dutch caps since 2022. Van de Ven has 12 since 2023.
And our Micky was on agent duty at the end of the summer window, helping Simons make up his mind while Chelsea idly lurked in the background.
“Micky van de Ven said, 'We need you, so come here'. And that’s what happened," the 22-year-old revealed in a recent interview with Dutch outlet AD.
Simons also noted Frank's impact during the decision-making process, saying "it's great how he [Frank] sees football" and the Dane supposedly outlined where the Dutch international can improve, which Simons appreciated.
Among the advocates of the player's move is national team boss Ronald Koeman, who labelled Spurs a "fantastic club" and a "wonderful step" in the maverick talent’s career. I've always liked you, Ron. Just don't ever consider stepping foot in the home dugout around here.