Sunderland on the verge of securing Granit Xhaka's signing, with a fee agreed and his medical appointment scheduled, according to recent reports.
Sunderland Sign Swiss Midfielder Granit Xhaka Ahead of 2025/26 Premier League Campaign
Sunderland have bolstered their squad for the upcoming season with the signing of Swiss international midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen. The 32-year-old midfielder is set to return to the Premier League after agreeing to a three-year contract with the Black Cats.
Xhaka, who was a key player for Leverkusen during the 2023/24 season, started in all but two of their 34 Bundesliga games. His contributions helped Leverkusen win the league title, secure the DFB Pokal, and reach the Europa League final.
The midfielder has prior Premier League experience, having been a regular player for Arsenal from 2016 to 2023. Xhaka was part of the Arsenal team that won the FA Cup under Arsene Wenger in 2017 and under Mikel Arteta in 2020. He also started the 2019 Europa League final for Arsenal.
Sunderland's acquisition of Xhaka marks their first top-flight campaign since the 2016/17 season, when they finished bottom of the league with 24 points. The Black Cats earned promotion to the Premier League via the play-offs last season, and they have been busy in the transfer market this summer.
In addition to Xhaka, Sunderland have also signed Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Matthew Burns, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chamsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra, Isaac Allan, and other players. A €20m (£17.4m) fee has been agreed for Xhaka's transfer.
The new season kicks off at home for Sunderland against West Ham United on August 16. Fans are eagerly awaiting the return of the Premier League and the opportunity to see Xhaka in action for their beloved Black Cats.
[1] Sunderland AFC Official Website, "Sunderland sign Granit Xhaka," (July 30, 2025), https://www.safc.com/news/first-team/2025/07/sunderland-sign-granit-xhaka
The addition of Granit Xhaka, a Swiss midfielder with Premier League experience, strengthens Sunderland's squad for the upcoming 2025/26 season, as he returns to the European-leagues after signing a three-year contract with the club. Previously, Xhaka had a successful stint with Premier League club Arsenal, contributing to FA Cup victories in 2017 and 2020, as well as a Europa League final appearance in 2019.
