Granit Xhaka has reportedly agreed personal terms with Chelsea, just weeks after insisting he was happy at Sunderland and not considering a transfer. The 33-year-old Sunderland captain is understood to be keen on joining the Blues, though the Black Cats have rejected an opening bid of £8 million and insist he is not for sale.
The Swiss international, currently representing his country at the World Cup, recently stated that the absence of transfer speculation allowed him to focus on the tournament. Speaking to Swiss outlet Blick, Xhaka said: "I'm not even thinking about a transfer. I'm really happy to finally have a summer without any speculation about my future."
Sky Germany now report that Xhaka has agreed terms with Chelsea, who are holding discussions with Sunderland. The midfielder played under new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso at Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga and DFB-Pokal in 2024, and is eager for a reunion at Stamford Bridge.
According to The Athletic, Sunderland regard the £8m bid as unacceptable and intend to refuse to sell their captain. This comes despite Xhaka having spent less than a year at the club, having been appointed captain shortly after joining. He had previously described Sunderland as a 'second home', adding: "You can only perform at your best when you feel comfortable in a place."
Xhaka was pivotal under manager Regis Le Bris last season, helping Sunderland finish seventh in the Premier League. His future has been thrown into doubt as new Chelsea boss Xabi Alonso seeks seasoned campaigners, with midfield reinforcement a priority.
