Premier League star opens up about relative's battle with Alzheimer's

Martin Macdonald

• 26 Jan 2026 08:01 CST
• 4 min read

Nieuws

Tottenham star Xavi Simons has opened up about being the relative of someone living with Alzheimer's.

Alzheimer's disease is the most common cause of dementia in the United Kingdom and, according to Alzheimer's Society, 982,000 people suffer from it in the UK.

By 2040, that number is expected to rise to 1.4 million people.

Though dementia largely impacts people over the age of 65, the disease can affect people around the sufferer like friends and family.

That is the case for Simons, whose grandmother has Alzheimer's.

The Dutchman spoke to Tottenham on the official club X page to talk about how he and his grandma still connect even with her illness impacting their lives.

"Alzheimer's illness that my grandma has, she loses a little bit about information in life, about things and that's a little bit hard because I know the woman that she was and that she still is," he explained.

Xavi Simons, his wonderful Grandma and her journey with Alzheimer's.

Raising awareness and support for @alzheimerssoc and @SpursFoundation 🤍 pic.twitter.com/KI34QnTkm6

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) January 23, 2026

"It's a reminder for us when we wake up like we are lucky to to be with her still here so that's the most important thing for us. The relationship she always had not only with me but with my older brother, my sister.

"My grandma was my second mom. We try to enjoy all the little moments that we have together. That's where we where we enjoy the most, especially me in my case.

"We are so busy with what we are doing on a daily basis that maybe we forget a little bit how precious life is and how important little things are. Alzheimer's, it can come suddenly to someone that we didn't expect, like for example my grandma. This illness is sad, yeah, but as well at the same time, what I said, I'm enjoying it more than when I was younger, that she's present with me every day.

"When she's here with me, I try to, you know, sometimes we play a game at home, that for us is as well really happy. So that's funny and especially, you know, just hang around together, spend some time as well. Now for me, that's the most important part, to be with my grandma, yeah."

"She said because we never spend a lot of time together on a daily basis, so for her it was a little bit difficult, but at the same time, it was nice because she was seeing I was going for my dreams.

"For me, it was really special to be at the point where I am right now and to bring that joy to her. Oh, that's great.

"She says she's really proud of me and she hopes for me the best, obviously. And especially as well in life, being happy, so that's for her the most important."

Through the Tottenham Hotspur foundation, the club supports people suffering from Alzheimer's as well as their carers in North London.

This January, Simons joined in a special activity session in partnership with the aforementioned Alzheimer's Society.

"I'm really happy to be here, to see all the people here, the good vibes that they have, and really happy as well for my grandma that she could see the training ground. So everyone is happy that I'm here," the former RB Leipzig midfielder said at the activity session.

"I think a really, really positive thing to see the community and to watch them and to try to help them, even if it's one person. So that was what made it beautiful.

"And for me being here, being able to give them a little smile is something that I'm happy to do.

From a negative situation, I try to take the positive way as well. I try to see the positive way, being every day with her [his grandma], enjoy these little moments, playing games with her. Go for a walk or making memories. And that makes me be at peace."