Granit Xhaka has decided to stay at Sunderland for the 2026/27 campaign
Granit Xhaka's has reaffirmed his commitment to Sunderland after talks this week, The Echo understands.
Sunderland rejected an £8 million bid from Chelsea last week, and have been insistent that they do not want to sell their captain and talisman. Chelsea's new head coach Xabi Alonso had been eager to reunite with the midfielder who had been so central to his success at Bayer Leverkusen, where the duo won the double and were one game away from going the whole campaign unbeaten in competitive fixtures.
Xhaka was understood to be keen on the move, but has held further talks with the Sunderland hierarchy this week. It's understood that the 34-year-old has now reaffirmed his commitment to the club and to leading the Black Cats into the next phase of the project. The prospect of leading the club into its first European campaign for over 50 years is understood to have been a key factor, as is his strong bond with the club's supporters.
The Switzerland international will now focus on making history with his country after they won their first World Cup knockout game since 1938 on Friday morning, and will return for pre-season training at the Academy of Light further down the line.
The move is a major boost to Sunderland's plans for the 2026/27 campaign, with the club determined to keep hold of a player who has had a transformative impact on the team and the club since his arrival from Bayer Leverkusen last summer.
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