Sunderland sign former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen

The Swiss international midfielder has signed a three-year deal at the Stadium of Light, with the transfer fee remaining undisclosed.

Xhaka, 31, brings a wealth of top-level experience to the Black Cats. He played 225 times for Arsenal in the Premier League, twice winning the Emirates FA Cup and wearing the captain's armband during his time in North London.

In 2023, he made a high-profile move to Leverkusen, where he became an integral part of the side that made history.

While at Bayer Leverkusen, Xhaka helped the club achieve its first-ever Bundesliga title during an extraordinary invincible season.

He also played a key role in their DFB-Pokal triumph - the club's second in history - cementing his status as one of the game's elite midfielders. His performances saw him ranked 16th in the 2024 Ballon d'Or voting.

Internationally, Xhaka is the heartbeat of the Swiss national team. He has captained Switzerland since 2020 and is the country's record appearance holder, having earned 137 caps to date.

"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," said Xhaka, via the club's official website.

"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." 

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