Sunderland stood firm to keep Granit Xhaka after Chelsea’s failed pursuit of their talismanic captain
Six days is a long time in football. Granit Xhaka was in. Then he looked out. Now, after one of the more dramatic transfer sagas of Sunderland’s recent history, he is back in again.
For almost a week, Sunderland supporters were dragged through every possible emotion. There was concern, frustration, anger, scepticism and, eventually, relief. All the while, Xhaka was away with Switzerland at the World Cup, reaching the last 16 and underlining again why this was never just another transfer story.
This was never a minor squad decision or a fringe-player saga. It was Sunderland’s captain, their midfield organiser and one of the statement signings of the club’s modern era being targeted by Chelsea. For a few days, it looked like the usual football food chain might take over. Instead, Sunderland dug in and refused to blink.
Sunderland stood firm when Chelsea came calling
Chelsea wanted Xhaka. Xabi Alonso wanted Xhaka. The player was clearly tempted by the prospect of reuniting with the manager under whom he had enjoyed such success at Bayer Leverkusen. For a period, it felt as though the direction of travel was obvious. In modern football, when a so-called “big six” club circles and a player’s head is turned, the food chain usually does the rest. This time, Sunderland bucked the trend.
The Black Cats made clear throughout that Xhaka was not for sale. Not at £8million. Not at £10million. Not at £12.5million. Not at the sort of level Chelsea were prepared to reach. Sources at the Chelsea end have since suggested Sunderland may, at most, have entertained a conversation at around £30million – but that was never a figure the London club were willing to get near.
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Sunderland had only signed Xhaka last summer in a package worth around £17.5million and saw no sporting or financial sense in losing their captain so quickly, particularly with European football ahead. That is the most important part of this saga. Sunderland did not panic. They did not behave like a club waiting to be picked apart. Under Kyril Louis-Dreyfus, Florent Ghisolfi and Régis Le Bris, they showed a level of strength and conviction that will have resonated far beyond Wearside.
A statement to fans, players and future signings
Xhaka’s arrival in the first place was an endorsement of what Sunderland are building. His willingness to explore Chelsea’s interest was an obvious blow. But the fact Sunderland have managed to bring him back around, remind him of his commitment and sell him again on the direction of the project is hugely significant.
It sends a message to supporters that the club will not simply roll over when the elite come calling. It sends a message to the dressing room that Sunderland’s ambition is real. And it sends a message to potential new signings that this is not a club trying to survive on scraps, but one determined to compete on its own terms.
Chelsea’s failed move raises awkward questions
There is also a wider point here about Chelsea. The London club’s pursuit of Xhaka raises fresh questions about their transfer operation, their hierarchy and how effectively they are prepared to support Alonso. The Spaniard was understood to be pushing hard for the deal, having identified Xhaka as a player he knew, trusted and wanted to build with. That made Sunderland’s refusal all the more notable. Chelsea's pursuit of Xhaka was a prerequisite for Alonso taking the job.
Chelsea, for all their wealth and status, did not get their way. Indeed, there was some surprise at Stamford Bridge at how quickly the situation turned. Initial reports that Xhaka was now expected to stay at Sunderland appeared to catch Chelsea sources off guard, with some dismissing the suggestion as “fake news” before the reality of Sunderland’s achievement became clear. Chelsea believed there was still a game to be played. Sunderland, by contrast, had reached the end of it.
Why Xhaka’s commitment now matters most
Xhaka had been attracted by the chance to work with Alonso again, which is understandable. Their relationship from Bayer Leverkusen carried obvious weight and Chelsea remain one of the biggest clubs in European football. But after discussions with Sunderland, the midfielder has reaffirmed his commitment to the club and now intends to remain on Wearside.
The chance to lead Sunderland in European competition is understood to have been a major factor. So too was the club’s long-term ambition, the trajectory of the project and Xhaka’s relationship with the supporters, which became one of the defining features of his first season at the Stadium of Light. That connection should not be underestimated.
Xhaka is not a player who does things half-heartedly. If he is in, he has to be fully in. Sunderland needed to know that. Their supporters needed to know that. And, most importantly, Le Bris needed to know that ahead of a campaign that will ask huge questions of his squad.
Now, the task is to move forward quickly. There will be some scars from the saga. Some fans will remember that Xhaka was open to the move. That is football. Players have ambitions, relationships and opportunities, and Chelsea’s interest was always likely to turn his head to some extent. But Sunderland’s response is the bigger story.
They flexed muscles many outside the club perhaps did not believe they had. They stared down a major Premier League rival. They protected their dressing room. They protected their project. And they kept their captain. For a club that has spent too many years being pushed around by circumstance, this felt different. Sunderland did not just keep Granit Xhaka. They sent Chelsea packing and reminded everybody that there is a quiet strength building on Wearside.
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