Xhaka Nears Premier League Return as Sunderland Strike £17m Agreement

Granit Xhaka is on the verge of completing a transfer to Sunderland after the club successfully negotiated a £17 million (€19.58 million) deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the experienced midfielder, who previously played for Arsenal. Xhaka, who has expressed a strong desire to return to the Premier League after several years in Germany, will see Sunderland pay an initial £13 million (€14.9 million) upfront, with the remaining £4 million (€4.6 million) structured as performance-related add-ons. If all goes according to plan, Xhaka is set to sign a three-year contract with Régis Le Bris’s side, who have recently secured promotion to the Premier League.

Leverkusen’s head coach, Erik ten Hag, had hoped to include Xhaka in his squad for the upcoming season, especially after a significant turnover of players, including the departures of Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong, and Jonathan Tah this summer. Xhaka was a key player for Leverkusen last season, contributing to their historic achievement of winning the German double and playing an integral role in their run to the Europa League final in 2024. His experience was also evident in the Bundesliga, where he helped the team finish as runners-up to Bayern Munich and made notable contributions in 10 Champions League matches.

Under Le Bris, Sunderland is actively seeking to bolster their midfield with seasoned Premier League talent. Prior to pursuing Xhaka, the club had expressed interest in signing Jordan Henderson. However, Henderson ultimately chose to join Brentford after his departure from Ajax. Xhaka’s arrival would not only provide valuable experience but also leadership in a youthful squad. During his seven years at Arsenal, Xhaka made a significant impact, winning the FA Cup twice and accumulating 297 appearances for the Gunners, establishing himself as a fan favorite.

If the transfer is finalized, Xhaka will become Sunderland’s seventh signing of the summer transfer window, joining other new faces such as Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Simon Adingra, Chemsdine Talbi, Reinildo Mandava, and Enzo Le Fée. Among these newcomers, only Adingra has prior Premier League experience, having made 60 appearances for Brighton.

In addition, Nottingham Forest is actively pursuing a possible deal to recruit the winger from Bologna, Dan Ndoye, Xhaka’s Swiss international colleague. Recent weeks have seen talks between the teams, and there is increasing hope that a deal may be made, particularly given reports that Ndoye is keen to come to England and play in the Premier League.