Xhaka Joins Sunderland from Leverkusen

Sunderland have secured a major coup with the signing of Swiss international Granit Xhaka from Bundesliga champions Bayer Leverkusen. The experienced midfielder joins the newly promoted Premier League side on a three-year contract.

The transfer deal is structured as follows:

• Initial fee: £13 million
• Potential add-ons: Up to £4 million

Xhaka, who will wear the iconic number 34 shirt at the Stadium of Light, brings a wealth of Premier League experience from his seven-year spell at Arsenal (2016-2023), where he made 297 appearances, won two FA Cups, and served as club captain.

"I'm very proud to be here. When I spoke to the club, I felt the energy and mentality that all the people and players have. It's exactly what I wanted," Xhaka stated.

"We're back where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history. I'm ready to help the team with both my experience and quality."

The 31-year-old midfielder enjoyed immediate success in Germany, helping Leverkusen claim their first-ever Bundesliga title in his debut season. However, following Xabi Alonso's departure as head coach, Xhaka expressed his desire to return to English football.

This signing represents:

• Sunderland's seventh summer acquisition
• Total summer spending exceeding £100 million

Xhaka joins fellow new arrivals including Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, and Simon Adingra as Sunderland prepare for their Premier League return.