Sunderland Close In on Granit Xhaka Signing from Leverkusen

Sunderland are poised to secure the signing of Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth an initial £13 million, with an additional £4 million potentially due in performance-related add-ons.

The 32-year-old midfielder is expected to travel for a medical and finalise a three-year contract with the newly promoted Premier League side.

Xhaka is no stranger to English football, having spent seven seasons with Arsenal where he made 297 appearances, won two FA Cups, and briefly captained the club before his move to Leverkusen in 2023.

His time in Germany proved fruitful, playing a key role in Bayer Leverkusen’s historic 2023/24 campaign which saw them clinch their first-ever Bundesliga title.

Xhaka’s arrival would mark Sunderland’s eighth acquisition of the summer, joining the likes of Enzo Le Fée, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi, and Simon Adingra.

This move brings the Black Cats’ transfer expenditure to £114 million during this window. However, they have offset some of that outlay by generating approximately £37 million from the sales of Jobe Bellingham and Tommy Watson.

Among Premier League clubs, only the traditional ‘big six’ have spent more so far this summer, as Sunderland look to make a statement following their promotion via a play-off final victory over Sheffield United in May.