Sunderland have agreed a deal to sign Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee in the region of €20m.
Xhaka is set to become the latest signing of an ambitious recruitment drive for the newly-promoted Black Cats, whose summer spending is set to swell past £120m.
The Switzerland international is keen to return to the Premier League after two seasons with Leverkusen.
It’s a considerable coup for Sunderland, with Xhaka placing 16th in last year’s Ballon d’Or vote.
The 32-year-old was recognised for his role in Leverkusen’s 2023/24 title success, as the club were crowned German champions for the first time, without losing a game.
He was named in the VDV Bundesliga Team of the Season in each of his two campaigns at the BayArena.
Fabrizio Romano has confirmed that Xhaka will fly to Sunderland on Monday to complete the transfer and sign a contract until 2027.
Xhaka made 227 Premier League appearances during a seven-year spell at Arsenal earlier in his career and adds top-flight experience to Regis Le Bris’s squad at the Stadium of Light.
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