Xhaka’s move from Bayer Leverkusen to Wearside was officially confirmed this morning, with the Swiss international having signed a three-year contract with the Black Cats.
Sunderland are paying an initial fee of £13m, with a further £4.3m of add-ons also agreed, with Xhaka’s arrival a notable coup given his pedigree at the very highest level.
The 32-year-old was a two-time FA Cup winner during his time with Arsenal, won the Bundesliga title with Leverkusen during an unbeaten 2023-24 campaign and was ranked the 16th best player in the world in the voting for the Ballon d’Or as recently as 2024.
He could have remained in Leverkusen, competing in this season’s Champions League, but instead opted to join a Sunderland side hoping to successfully reestablish themselves in the Premier League this season following last term’s promotion via the Championship play-offs.
“I love a challenge,” said Xhaka, who could make his first Sunderland appearance in Saturday’s Stadium of Light friendly with Real Betis. “This is a big challenge, maybe the biggest of my career so far, but I took it, I am here, and I want to show that day by day, weekend by weekend, on the pitch.
“I had the feeling that I needed a new challenge – a big challenge and a project. When I spoke with the club, I was very excited to come here, to feel the energy and the mentality of the people and the players that the club has around. It is exactly what I wanted, and that’s why I decided to come here.”
During his seven seasons with Arsenal, most of which saw him captaining the Gunners, Xhaka established himself as one of the leading central-midfielders in European football.
He boasts 137 senior caps with the Swiss national side, and will add some much-needed leadership, experience and Premier League knowhow to a Sunderland squad that is predominantly comprised of much younger players.
“I have been in the UK already for seven years,” said Xhaka, in an interview with Sunderland’s official media channels. “I know the mentality here and I know the league. What you can expect from me is that I will bring a lot of experience from the different types of European football I have played in.
“But as well, a big mentality. How to work, day by day, to achieve the goals that we have, in the team and as a club. Hopefully, we can help each other, and I can help give a good feeling and the belief that we can do what we want to do. This is me.”
Xhaka is expected to take over the captain’s armband within the Sunderland dressing room, and his off-field leadership will be crucial to the club’s attempts to succeed in the Premier League this season.
He will also be a crucial part of Regis Le Bris’ plans on the pitch, though, with his arrival further strengthening a central-midfield unit that has already benefited from the addition of Habib Diarra and Noah Sadiki this summer.
“I think, in a team, you need a good balance, a good mix, with young players and experienced players too,” said Xhaka. “I am still not finished. The hunger is still here to achieve many good things.
“That’s why I took the step here as well, because I feel like I am ready to help the team. I am ready to help the team with my experience, but also with my quality as well.
“I have a good feeling that we have a good mix now between the experienced and young players. We need to find ourselves now on the pitch, for sure. But I don’t think this will be a big problem.”
Le Bris cannot wait to start working with Xhaka, citing the capture of such a decorated and in-demand player as further proof of Sunderland’s continued progress.
“It’s a massive statement about the attractiveness of the club,” said the Black Cats boss. “If a player of that dimension says yes to our project, it means something.
“I have to congratulate the people behind the scenes for completing the move. It makes a big noise and that is something we are looking to do this season.
“For the squad, it’s really important. We started our recruitment with talented young players, but the second layer is to balance the squad with more experience. With what he has achieved in the game, Granit is really good for that.”
