Sunderland Complete £17m Signing of Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen

Deal Structure: Initial £13m fee + £4m in add-ons | Contract: Three years (until 2028) | Shirt Number: 34

Key Transfer Details

Medical & Signing: The 32-year-old Switzerland captain finalized his medical and contract at the Stadium of Light this week, marking his Premier League return after two seasons in Germany .
Sunderland’s Spending: This signing elevates the club’s summer expenditure to £114m – the highest outside the Premier League’s “big six” – following their promotion via the Championship playoffs .
Leverkusen’s Resistance: Manager Erik ten Hag actively opposed the sale, but Xhaka’s insistence on joining Sunderland forced the Bundesliga side’s hand .

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Xhaka’s Career Highlights

Arsenal Legacy: 297 appearances, two FA Cups, and a spell as captain during his seven-year stint (2016–2023).
Leverkusen Success: Pivotal in their historic 2023–24 Bundesliga/DFB-Pokal double, contributing to 49 appearances last season.
International Pedigree: Switzerland’s all-time caps leader (137 appearances) .

Strategic Significance for Sunderland

Experience Injection: Xhaka becomes the eighth summer signing and adds critical top-flight savvy to a squad featuring young acquisitions like Simon Adingra (£20.5m) and Habib Diarra (£30m) .
Philosophy Shift: Breaks Sunderland’s trend of prioritizing youth, signaling ambition for immediate Premier League survival 8.
Leadership Role: Expected to anchor midfield alongside new arrivals Noah Sadiki and Enzo Le Fee .

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Quotes of Note

Xhaka: “When I spoke to the club, I felt the energy and mentality. We want to write our own history here.”
Kristjaan Speakman (Sporting Director): “His arrival endorses our ambition to build a team our supporters can be proud of.”
Paul Merson (Sky Sports): “This gives Sunderland the slightest chance of survival – a stratospheric signing.”

Tactical Impact

Metronome Role: Xhaka’s 90% pass accuracy and leadership will be vital for a promoted side likely to face possession battles .
Survival Hopes: Analysts highlight his ability to control tempo as a potential difference-maker in relegation scrapes .

Contextual Challenges

Leverkusen’s summer exodus included Florian Wirtz (£100m to Liverpool) and Jeremie Frimpong .
Sunderland must now integrate multiple midfield signings, potentially triggering sales of existing players like Dan Neil .

Next Up: Ademola Lookman Demands Atalanta Exit, Accuses Club of “Broken Promises”.