Former Manchester United and England striker, Wayne Rooney, has hailed Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka as "probably the signing of the season". The Black Cats have made a remarkable return to the Premier League, currently sitting fourth after 11 games with an impressive 19 points. This puts them well on track to achieve their primary objective - securing their position in the league this season.
Wayne Rooney, Manchester United legend, said:
"Coming back to the Premier League you wonder if he can do it. Obviously with a promoted team as well coming up, what impact could he have?
"But he's probably been the signing of the season. He has been brilliant."
A key factor in Sunderland's strong start is former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka. His experience and leadership skills have been instrumental in shaping the team's performance. He has played every minute of all their league games so far, scoring once and providing three assists.
This season, he leads Sunderland in several areas- assists, chances created, touches, successful passes, duels won, possession won, and distance covered. At 33 years old, Xhaka was one of several summer signings following promotion from the Championship. He joined from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £13m.
From villain to hero
Xhaka had a mixed stint at Arsenal where he made 297 appearances and won two FA Cups. However, his time there was marked by controversy; he was often seen as a pantomime villain and faced criticism from fans. Notably, he was sent off five times for Arsenal and spent six weeks as captain before clashing with his own fans which led to him being stripped of his armband.
However, under Mikel Arteta’s management things improved significantly for him at Arsenal where he became an important player before leaving in 2023 for Leverkusen. At Leverkusen, he helped them secure their first Bundesliga title during his opening season.
Wayne Rooney added:
"When he had the situation with Arsenal, when he fell out with the fans it showed his character to go and play for Arsenal again. To get through that and then go and perform for Arsenal, and then at Leverkusen to be part of a team to beat Bayern Munich to the title for the first time in over 10 years has shown what a good player he is.
"Sunderland have got a very young squad as well. He'd almost be like a father figure and he'll be a big help for the coach as well to be the in-between man as captain. And they made a lot of signings in the summer, he'll be a massive help for the manager and with them players, for sure, using his experience."
Granit Xhaka's journey from Arsenal to Sunderland has been marked by highs and lows. However, his current form with Sunderland is a testament to his resilience and skill as a player. His leadership and experience have proven invaluable for the team, making him arguably one of the best signings of this Premier League season.
