Sunderland agree £17m Xhaka deal with Leverkusen

Granit Xhaka will cost an initial £13 million and have a potential £4 million in additions, according to Sunderland.

The 32-year-old is scheduled to travel to the Stadium of Light to get checked out and sign a three-year contract.

After seven years at Arsenal, Swiss international Xhaka will make his Premier League debut.

Following a successful two-year stint in Germany, Xhaka helped Leverkusen win their first-ever Bundesliga title in 2024.

The agreement will increase Sunderland’s summer spending by £114 million this summer, despite having recovered around £37 million from sales of Tommy Watson and Jude Bellingham.

After the Black Cats’ promotion from the Championship through a play-off final victory over Sheffield United in May, only the traditional big six Premier League clubs have spent more money than the Black Cats.