Official | Granit Xhaka joins Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen for €15m

In partnership with

Get German Football News

·30 de julio de 2025

Official | Granit Xhaka joins Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen for €15m

Bayer Leverkusen have announced that midfielder Granit Xhaka has joined Sunderland from the Bundesliga side.

Xhaka joined Leverkusen in 2023 for a fee of €15m and has now left the team for the same fee. It is reported that at the newly promoted Premier League side, Xhaka will receive a pay rise.

OneFootball Videos

On Xhaka moving to Sunderland, Simon Rolfes said:

“After signing two years ago, Granit Xhaka was a key player in the Leverkusen team that won the double in 2024. Granting his urgent request for a transfer is the best solution for Bayer 04 and for all parties involved under the negotiated terms and circumstances. We wish Granit all the best for the rest of his career.”

In the 32-year-old’s first season back in the Bundesliga, he was a revelation and played a key role in Leverkusen’s Bundesliga and DFB Pokal double. However, in his second season, he looked off the pace and at times was a liability for die Werkself.

Where Xhaka will be missed is in the leadership aspect. With the vast exodus of players this summer, the Swiss midfielder was set to play a big role in this new look Leverkusen, but he has now left, and with Lukas Hradecky also looking to leave in this window, there is set to be a leadership vacuum at the BayArena.

After Xhaka’s departure, it is reported that Leverkusen will now look for an equally experienced midfielder who can come in and replace the 32-year-old. Stylistically, they already have Aleix Garcia, who is very similar in playing style to Xhaka.

GGFN | Jack Meenan