Granit Xhaka leaves Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen
Swiss international Granit Xhaka leaves Arsenal after spending seven years at the club. He will now join Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka will sign a five-year deal with Leverkusen until 2028.
The midfielder joined Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016 for a fee of £35 million. In his seven-year spell, Xhaka has 297 appearances for the club. He also scored 23 goals and has 29 assists. The midfielder also helped Arsenal in winning two FA Cups and finishing 2nd in the Premier League last season.
He scored twice during the final game of the season, a 5-0 home win against Wolves before being given a standing ovation as he was substituted later on.
Xhaka was Arsenal’s captain in 2019, but after his infamous confrontation with Arsenal fans in November 2019 he was striped off from the captaincy.
However, he bounced back quickly under Mikel Arteta, and the fans also started to love their former captain.
Granit Xhaka leaves Arsenal and will join Bayer Leverkusen for €25 million
The Swiss midfielder will return to Bundesliga, where he spent four years with Borussia Monchengladbach. Bayer Leverkusen will pay €25 million, including add-ons for Xhaka.
He completed his medical in Cologne this afternoon after final paperwork was completed last night. Former Real Madrid midfielder and current Leverkusen manager Xabi Alonso pushed hard to sign Granit Xhaka for his team.
Last season the 30-year-old played an integral role during the Gunner’s impressive season. He made 47 appearances in all competitions and scored nine goals, his highest tally in a single season.
Arsenal have already signed Kavi Havertz from Chelsea and will soon announce their record-breaking signing, Declan Rice, for £100m plus £5m add-ons from West Ham.
They are also in the race to sign Romeo Lavia if Thomas Partey departs. Liverpool are also looking to sign him. Moreover, even after Xhaka’s departure, Arsenal will dominate in midfield with the signings of Havertz and Rice.
