Granit Xhaka has reportedly agreed personal terms with Chelsea, just weeks after insisting he was 'really happy' at Sunderland and not considering a departure. The 33-year-old Sunderland captain is keen to join the Blues, though Sunderland state he is not for sale and have rejected an £8 million bid.
Xhaka's U-Turn on Sunderland Future
Speaking to Swiss outlet Blick earlier this month, Xhaka said: 'For me, the most important thing is that my family is happy. And we are in Sunderland. I'm not even thinking about a transfer. I'm really happy to finally have a summer without any speculation about my future. That's rarely been the case in recent years. This allows me to fully focus on the World Cup.'
However, Sky Germany now reports that Xhaka has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, who are holding discussions with Sunderland over a potential transfer. The Athletic reports that an opening bid of £8 million has been snubbed by Sunderland, who regard it as unacceptable and intend to refuse to sell their skipper this summer.
Reunion with Xabi Alonso
Xhaka played under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso for two years at Bayer Leverkusen, securing the Bundesliga title and DFB-Pokal in 2024, and is eager for a reunion at Stamford Bridge. Alonso is keen to bring in seasoned campaigners, with midfield reinforcement topping his list of priorities. He has been handed the title of manager rather than head coach, indicating he will wield considerably more influence than those who came before him.
Xhaka's Impact at Sunderland
This comes despite spending less than a year in Sunderland, having previously described the city as a 'second home'. Xhaka was appointed club captain by manager Regis Le Bris just over a fortnight after joining the Black Cats. 'It's a bit like home for me,' Xhaka added. 'The city feels like Basel. Like the St. Johann district where I grew up. You can only perform at your best when you feel comfortable in a place.'
Xhaka proved pivotal under Le Bris last season, with Sunderland finishing seventh in the Premier League. The 33-year-old had been widely expected to spearhead the Black Cats' Europa League campaign next term, yet his future at the club has been thrown into doubt.
World Cup Focus
Xhaka is currently representing Switzerland at the World Cup, having helped his nation progress to the knockout stages where they face Algeria in the round of 32. He recently discussed how the absence of transfer speculation would enable him to 'fully focus' on the tournament, but the reported agreement with Chelsea now threatens to disrupt that focus.
