Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka is at the centre of intense transfer speculation after multiple German reports claimed the 33‑year‑old has agreed personal terms with Chelsea.
According to German journalist Florian Plettenberg, Xhaka and Chelsea have reached a “full verbal agreement”, with personal terms already settled as the Swiss international pushes for a move back to London. The deal is said to be driven directly by Alonso, who previously coached Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen, where the pair won the Bundesliga title together.
CHELSEA’s interest marks a notable shift in their recruitment strategy. Under the BlueCo ownership, the club has largely focused on signing young, high‑potential players.
Xhaka, who turns 34 in September, represents a move toward adding leadership and experience to a squad that struggled last season, finishing 10th in the Premier League. Alonso is reportedly keen to bring in seasoned figures to stabilise the dressing room and accelerate the rebuild.
However, Sunderland’s stance remains firm. The Black Cats consider their captain “not for sale”, with no club‑to‑club contact taking place so far.
Xhaka, who joined Sunderland from Leverkusen last summer, played a pivotal role in their remarkable campaign, helping the newly promoted side finish seventh and qualify for the Europa League. He remains under contract until 2028, and the club is under no financial pressure to sell.
Despite Sunderland’s position, Chelsea are expected to test their resolve. Reports suggest the Blues are preparing an offer in the region of €30 million (£26m) following Alonso’s express request to secure the midfielder.
Xhaka, currently on World Cup duty with Switzerland, has previously spoken warmly about his time at Sunderland, describing the city as “a bit like home.” Yet the lure of reuniting with Alonso and returning to London appears to be a decisive factor behind his willingness to agree terms.
With CHELSEA already in contact with Sunderland and Alonso pushing hard for the transfer, the coming days could prove decisive. For now, Sunderland insist their captain is going nowhere — but the growing noise from Germany suggests this developing saga is far from over
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