Granit Xhaka nears Chelsea move to reunite with Xabi Alonso in €30m deal
Swiss captain Granit Xhaka is close to joining Chelsea, where former Bayer Leverkusen coach Xabi Alonso wants him to add experience. Sunderland reportedly demand a fee of 30 million euros or more for the 33-year-old.
The transfer drive
Granit Xhaka, 33, could leave Sunderland after just one season (some sources cite his age as 34). The Swiss national team captain helped the promoted Black Cats finish seventh in the Premier League and qualify for the Europa League. Now Chelsea, managed by Xabi Alonso since this summer, are pushing hard for his signature. Multiple outlets report that the clubs are already in contact and that Xhaka himself has reached at least a verbal understanding with the London side.
With Granit Xhaka, it's never boring.
Alonso factor
The driving force is Alonso. The Spaniard coached Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen during the historic 2024 double-winning campaign, where the pair turned a young squad into an unbeaten Bundesliga champion. Their mutual admiration is well documented. Xhaka once told Blick: "The human side impressed me in direct dealings with him. How he behaves under pressure as a coach, how he reacts to mistakes, to uncomfortable scorelines, his calmness in communication with us, wow!"
What Sunderland want
Reports disagree on the exact fee. Tages Anzeiger puts the figure at 30 million euros, double what Sunderland paid a year ago. Watson and 20 Minuten quote a range of 35 to 40 million Swiss francs, while N-tv cites that a full verbal agreement on personal terms already exists. Blick, however, says the player and Chelsea are not yet in final agreement, though talks are in a hot phase and the matter now lies with Sunderland's leadership under owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
World Cup backdrop
The negotiations have intensified during the World Cup in North America. Switzerland face a round-of-16 match in Vancouver on Friday morning, and Xhaka's future is competing for attention with the tournament itself. For Xhaka, a move would mean a return to London, where he previously spent seven years at Arsenal.
What Chelsea gain
Chelsea finished 10th last season and missed out on European football. Alonso, who left Leverkusen for Real Madrid before arriving at Stamford Bridge, wants leadership and experience. No current Chelsea squad member is over 30. Xhaka would fill the same dressing-room role he performed at Leverkusen and then at Sunderland, where he played 36 competitive matches and captained the side into Europe.
