Sunderland have agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Granit Xhaka, according to reports, despite Erik ten Hag’s insistence the player would stay.
Fabrizio Romano reports that a deal is agreed between all parties for Granit Xhaka to leave Bayer Leverkusen and join promoted Premier League club Sunderland.
Romano understands the fee to be €20m (£17.4m), with Xhaka signing just a two-year contract until 2027.
Leverkusen have reportedly given the green light for the player to fly and complete his move to Sunderland today.
Responding to comments from Xhaka’s agent about a potential move, Leverkusen boss Erik ten Hag has previously insisted that the midfielder would be remaining at the club this summer.
“The agent of Xhaka can say whatever he wants, but this club has already let three important players go, and we won’t let any more go,” ten Hag said. “Granit is a leader, he still has three years left on his contract here.”
Ten Hag was presumably referring to the sales of Odilon Kossounou to Atalanta, and Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool, netting the club almost €200m.
Yet in the end, it seems Xhaka and his agent succeeded in convincing Leverkusen to sell him as well.
David Ornstein had revealed that Xhaka had formally asked his club to let him go, allowing him to return to the Premier League after seven years in the division with Arsenal. It looks like that move is now on the verge of completion.