Chelsea reach Xavi Simons agreement as RB Leipzig open Carney Chukwuemeka talks in possible swap between Premier League and Bundesliga sides

According to Fabrizio Romano, Chelsea are advancing in talks with Simons on personal terms, with the player keen on the move to Stamford Bridge. While the Premier League club are yet to officially reach out to RB Leipzig regarding the transfer, Sky Sport has reported that the move is “imminent.”

Simons spent the last two seasons on loan at Leipzig from Paris Saint-Germain before the Bundesliga club made the move permanent in January 2025 for €50 million. Last season, the attacking midfielder scored 10 goals and provided seven assists in 25 league appearances. Meanwhile, Leipzig have identified Chelsea's Chukwuemeka as a potential replacement in their midfield. The 21-year-old spent last season on loan at Borussia Dortmund, where he made 10 Bundesliga appearances and also featured in three Champions League and four Club World Cup matches.

Although Chelsea are eager to finalise the Simons deal, they will need to offload a few players before submitting a formal offer to meet Leipzig’s €70m valuation. However, including Carney Chukwuemeka in a potential swap deal could help lower the asking price.

Simons was originally a product of Barcelona’s La Masia academy before joining PSG at just 16. Despite being considered an exciting talent, he made only 11 appearances for the French club. In 2022, he was sold to PSV, where he enjoyed a breakout season, scoring 22 goals in 48 matches. PSG then activated their buy-back clause in 2023 but immediately loaned him out to RB Leipzig before eventually selling him in 2025.

The Club World Cup champions continue to be active on the market. They have already brought in Liam Delap, Joao Pedro and Jamie Gittens this summer. With Leipzig pushing for Chukwuemeka and Chelsea accelerating talks for Simons, the two sides could be headed for a high-profile summer swap in the coming days.