Overview

• The three-year contract includes an initial £13 million fee plus up to £4.3 million in performance-related add-ons.
• Xhaka, 32, brings Premier League experience from his time as Arsenal captain and was integral to Bayer Leverkusen’s 2023–24 Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal triumphs.
• Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman called the signing a significant endorsement of Sunderland’s ambition to build a squad capable of enduring top-flight competition.
• He becomes the seventh summer signing following Enzo Le Fee, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Chemsdine Talbi, Simon Adingra and Reinildo Mandava in a major recruitment effort.
• Xhaka said he was drawn to Sunderland by the club’s energy and mentality, expressing his eagerness to help write the next chapter in Wearside history.