Not many gamblers, including fans of Coin Casino, would have predicted that such a key part of Xabi Alonso's Bundesliga-winning Bayer Leverkusen side would be on his way to Sunderland this summer, but Granit Xhaka has done just that.
Sunderland have officially announced the signing of former Arsenal midfielder, Granit Xhaka, from Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen.
The Switzerland international has committed to a three-year deal with the newly promoted Premier League side, marking a significant milestone in Sunderland's summer spending.
Big changes at Leverkusen
The Switzerland international and former Arsenal midfielder has joined The Black Cats after Leverkusen followed up their shock Bundesliga title win with a slightly disappointing campaign last time out.
The departure of manager Xabi Alonso, who has moved to Real Madrid, has undoubtedly also contributed to the exodus away from the BayArena, as other key players, including Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong, have left to join Liverpool, and Jonathan Tah has made his way to Bayern Munich.
A return to the Premier League
Xhaka, who spent seven years at Arsenal before joining Leverkusen in 2023, will don the number 34 shirt at the Stadium of Light.
During his tenure at Arsenal, Xhaka made 297 appearances, won two FA Cups, and briefly served as the team's captain. His move to Germany saw him guide Leverkusen to their first Bundesliga title during his opening season at the club.
However, following Xabi Alonso's departure as head coach at the end of last season, Xhaka expressed a desire to return to the Premier League. His wish has now been granted with his move to Sunderland.
The Black Cats will pay an initial £13m fee for the Swiss midfielder, with the potential for an extra £4m in add-ons. This acquisition takes Sunderland's summer spending past the £100m mark, indicating their commitment to building a good Premier League squad.
Upon signing for Sunderland, Xhaka said:
"When I spoke to the club, I was excited and I felt the energy, and the mentality that all the people and players have. It's exactly what I wanted, and I have a very good feeling. We are back to where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history."
Xhaka's arrival marks the club's seventh summer signing. He follows the arrivals of Enzo le Fee, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi, and Simon Adingra.
These signings underline Sunderland's strategic approach to building a robust team capable of competing at the highest level.
Sunderland's acquisition of Granit Xhaka is a significant move that not only strengthens their midfield but also brings a wealth of experience to the team.
