Granit Xhaka agrees terms with Chelsea
Chelsea have reportedly secured a verbal agreement on personal terms with Granit Xhaka, the Sunderland midfielder, as the club seeks to conclude a deal swiftly, reports BritPanorama.
The west London club has acted decisively, lodging a €30 million (£26 million) offer for the player as they aim to finalise the transfer. Xhaka’s swift negotiations have seen him granting full approval to Chelsea’s terms.
This transfer initiative is led by Xabi Alonso, who is set to take the managerial role at Stamford Bridge on 1 July. Alonso has prioritised bringing the 33-year-old midfielder to Chelsea, indicating his strategic vision for the team’s midfield transformation.
Xhaka and Alonso share a strong rapport from their time at Bayer Leverkusen, where they achieved remarkable success during the 2023/24 season, culminating in an unbeaten Bundesliga campaign and the DFB-Pokal title. The midfielder played a pivotal role, participating in 33 league matches as Alonso’s on-pitch leader.
Currently, Xhaka is on international duty at the World Cup in North America, where he has been instrumental for Switzerland, leading his team to the top of Group B. He has played every minute of the group stage matches, helping secure a spot in the knockout rounds.
Despite Xhaka’s apparent eagerness for the move, Sunderland is unlikely to relent easily. He was celebrated as the club’s Player of the Season in his debut campaign, contributing significantly to Sunderland’s impressive seventh-place finish and securing a place in the Europa League.
As the transfer market heats up, the dynamics between clubs and players will continue to shift, reminding fans of the ever-changing landscape of football.
