Chelsea have reached a full verbal agreement with Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka over personal terms, with new manager Xabi Alonso driving the surprise move for his former Bayer Leverkusen captain.
The 33-year-old Switzerland international has agreed salary and contract length with the Blues, and negotiations are now focused on reaching a club-to-club agreement with Sunderland.
Alonso the driving force
The move is being spearheaded by Alonso, who officially takes charge at Stamford Bridge on July 1. The pair enjoyed remarkable success together at Bayer Leverkusen during the 2023-24 season, winning the Bundesliga without a single defeat, claiming the DFB-Pokal, and reaching the Europa League final.
Xhaka has spoken highly of Alonso’s management, praising his ability to judge players purely on merit regardless of status or experience.
Sunderland digging in
The Black Cats are expected to provide stiff resistance. Xhaka was named captain immediately after joining from Leverkusen last summer in a deal worth up to £17 million, and he played a key role in guiding the newly-promoted side to a remarkable seventh-place finish and Europa League qualification.
Sunderland have made it clear they have no intention of selling their captain and are under no financial pressure to do so. Xhaka remains under contract until 2028.
A shift in Chelsea’s strategy
The pursuit marks a significant departure from Chelsea’s recent recruitment model, which has focused predominantly on younger talents. The Blues have fielded the Premier League’s youngest squad for the past two seasons and have not selected a player aged 30 or over during that period.
However, club leadership recognise the need for more experience and leadership in the dressing room. Xhaka, who previously spent seven seasons at Arsenal, has been widely praised for the leadership and stability he brought to Sunderland’s young squad.
What happens next
Chelsea have established contact with Sunderland, with reports suggesting an opening offer in the region of €30 million. The player is currently on World Cup duty with Switzerland and is waiting for the two clubs to reach an agreement.
With Chelsea returning to pre-season next month and their Premier League campaign starting on August 24, both clubs will be keen to resolve the situation swiftly—though Sunderland’s determination to keep their captain suggests this saga is far from over.
