Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka linked with Chelsea move
27.06.2026
Chelsea are reportedly interested in signing Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka, potentially reuniting him with new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. Xhaka, who will turn 34 in September, previously played under Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, where they achieved a Bundesliga title win and an unbeaten run of 51 games.
Reports suggest that Xhaka has verbally agreed to a move to Stamford Bridge. However, there has been no direct club-to-club contact between Chelsea and Sunderland, and the Black Cats have indicated that the midfielder is not for sale. Sunderland are reportedly in a strong negotiating position as Xhaka has two years remaining on his current contract.
Sunderland signed Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for £13m last summer, with an additional £4m in add-ons. He played a crucial role in helping Sunderland not only remain in the Premier League but also qualify for the Europa League. During the last season, Xhaka made 34 appearances in the league, scoring once and providing six assists.
Xhaka’s Impact and Previous Career
Xhaka’s return to the Premier League last year saw him quickly become a key figure for Regis Le Bris‘s Sunderland side, which finished seventh in the Premier League. His experience and leadership were instrumental in elevating the team’s standards.
Le Bris praised Xhaka’s impact, noting his demanding nature and how it raised the standards for both players and coaching staff. He described coaching Xhaka as a privilege, highlighting the midfielder’s emotional and intense personality.
Before his move to Germany, Xhaka spent seven seasons at Arsenal, where he made 297 appearances and scored 23 goals. He was keen for a move back to London when he left Leverkusen, with West Ham being a potential option at the time, but he ultimately decided against it.
Xhaka’s time at Leverkusen was highly successful, where he was a pivotal player in Alonso’s team. He spoke positively about Alonso’s coaching style, mentioning that the manager focuses on who deserves to play based on training performance, giving every player a chance to prove their importance.
Chelsea’s Transfer Activity
Chelsea are looking to acquire experienced players with proven Premier League experience, and Xhaka is considered one of their midfield options. Given his age, Chelsea are reportedly not willing to pay an excessive transfer fee for the player.
In other transfer news, Chelsea are close to finalising a deal for Marco Palestra, a 21-year-old right-sided defender from Atalanta. Palestra arrived in London from Rome to complete his move, which is reportedly worth £43m. He is expected to be Alonso’s first signing as Chelsea manager.
Additionally, Chelsea have enquired about signing Crystal Palace centre-back Maxence Lacroix, as Alonso is keen to bolster his central defence. Meanwhile, Italian side Como are reportedly interested in Chelsea centre-back Trevoh Chalobah, although a deal is considered difficult to achieve.
Sunderland’s qualification for the Europa League, partly due to Xhaka’s contributions, has been a significant achievement for the club. The potential departure of such an integral player could be a blow for Sunderland as they prepare for their second Premier League season.
Xhaka is currently captaining Switzerland at the World Cup this summer.
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Source: skysports.com
Ishaan Kapoor
Sports correspondent covering cricket, football and international competitions.