Official: Sunderland Beat AC Milan and Saudi Club to Sign £17M Superstar

Official: Sunderland Beat AC Milan and Saudi Club to Sign £17M Superstar

Official: Sunderland Sign Granit Xhaka, Beating Out AC Milan and Saudi Interest

Sunderland have officially completed the signing of Granit Xhaka, the 32-year-old midfielder from Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen.

The former Arsenal captain has agreed to a three-year deal with the Black Cats, returning to English football with Sunderland, who recently secured promotion to the Premier League.

“I’m very proud to join Sunderland,” Xhaka said after the announcement. “When I spoke with the club, I immediately felt the energy and mentality of everyone involved. It’s exactly what I was looking for.”

Xhaka had previously been linked with a move to Serie A giants AC Milan, and there were even reports suggesting he had a deal in place with Saudi Pro League outfit NEOM SC. Ultimately, it was Sunderland who secured his signature.

In their official statement, Sunderland confirmed the deal, subject to international clearance. “Granit Xhaka joins from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee and signs a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.”

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano revealed that Sunderland paid €20 million (approximately £17 million) for the Swiss international — double the amount previously reported.

Following the signing, Xhaka also delivered a message to Sunderland fans, highlighting the club’s long-awaited return to the Premier League. “This is where the club belongs.

We’ll need to find our rhythm on the pitch, but I’m confident that won’t take long.”

Sporting director Kristjaan Speakman hailed the signing as a statement of intent. “Bringing in a player of Granit’s experience is a major reflection of our ambitions and our commitment to building a team that our supporters can be proud of.”

Now, all eyes will be on Xhaka to see how his experience and leadership influence Sunderland’s return to top-flight football.