West Ham lose £17m transfer race as Sunderland sign ex Arsenal captain

Sunderland have confirmed the signing of former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka in a marquee arrival for the North East outfit ahead of the Premier League season.

The midfielder arrives on Wearside from Bayer Leverkusen after two years with the German outfit. During that time, Xhaka helped the team to triumph in the Bundesliga, DFB-Pokal and DFL-Supercup, as well as to the Europa League final in 2024.

The 32-year-old will add bags of Premier League experience to Regis Le Bris’ Black Cats, having played 225 times in the division while at Arsenal. Xhaka cultivated a reputation for crunching tackles, as well as a hot-headed temperament in the centre of the park.

Sunderland confirm Granit Xhaka transfer

Xhaka could make his competitive debut for Sunderland against West Ham on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. Graham Potter’s side make the trip to the Stadium of Light on August 16.

The Hammers had been credited with transfer interest in Xhaka themselves this summer. Adding a central midfielder is known to be a priority with Carlos Soler having returned to Paris Saint-Germain and the club lacking reliable options in that position.

German outlet Rheinische Post had named West Ham as suitors for Xhaka just over a week ago but, even at that stage, Sunderland were thought to be frontrunners. The £17 million move has now been completed.

Ex Arsenal captain ‘proud’ to return to Premier League

Speaking about the move to Sunderland, Xhaka said: “I’m very proud to be here. 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. I feel that I’m ready to help the team with my experience but with quality as well. We need to find ourselves on the pitch, but I don’t think this will be a big problem. It’s been a long time to wait, but I’m here now and I’m looking forward to it.”

The 32-year-old spent seven years at Arsenal before moving to Bayer Leverkusen, winning two FA Cups, two Community Shields and helping the side to the final of the Europa League in 2019.

Gunners manager Mikel Arteta is known to be a big fan of the midfielder, with Xhaka on the verge of leaving when the Spaniard took over in December 2019 following a breakdown in relationship with Arsenal fans. Xhaka had been dropped and stripped of captaincy by Unai Emery.

What followed was a remarkable turnaround and, prior to his departure in 2023, Arteta was asked about Xhaka’s importance. He said: “For me, crucial. Really, really important on every level, for the team and for the club as well. In the great moments like the season he has had, and in the difficult ones.

“We have become a better club and better people and we have understood certain situations much better than just judging them. The club and a lot of people have done really well to dig in there and understand what happened emotionally and why those reactions were happening. And having the courage to say: ‘OK, let’s turn around the situation.”

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