Arsenal asset Granit Xhaka is in advanced talks to seal a £13 million transfer to Bayer Leverkusen this summer… with the Swiss midfielder signing a four-year deal with the Bundesliga side as Mikel Arteta begins rebuilding Gunners
- The midfielder has impressed in Arsenal’s title chase this season
- The 30-year-old still has a one-year contract with the Emirates, with an option to extend
- Xhaka has made more than 290 appearances in Arsenal red since his arrival in 2016
Arsenal’s Granit Xhaka is expected to join Bayer Leverkusen this summer for £13 million with the clubs in advanced talks.
It ends seven years in north London for the Swiss midfielder, 30, who made 295 appearances for the club and scored 21 goals.
Xhaka has been a star in Arsenal’s resurgence this season. He scored a personal best seven goals and reduced his disciplinary problems. But he is about to leave, with Arsenal targeting central midfielders such as West Ham captain Declan Rice and Brighton’s Moises Caicedo to replace him.
Meanwhile, Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun has turned his back on England to become the USA’s banner for the 2026 World Cup.
Xhaka briefly captained the Gunners, but was stripped of him in late 2019 after falling out with the fan base amid a dip in form.
Former Arsenal captain Granit Xhaka is in advanced talks over a move to Bayer Leverkusen
Mikel Arteta has been instrumental in the player’s resurgence of form at the Emirates this season
The 30-year-old Switzerland international told fans to ‘f*** off’ after being substituted amid a hail of booing in October 2019, after which he was sidelined for a long time.
But Xhaka’s comeback this season was a crucial part of Arsenal’s extended stay at the top of the table during the 2022-23 season.
The player has only one year left on his contract with Arsenal, although the club could offer Xhaka an extension to keep him at the club until 2024.
Bayer Leverkusen has had an impressive second half of the season under Spanish national team icon Xabi Alonso.
The former Liverpool and Real Madrid midfielder was appointed to the Bundesliga squad in October after a lackluster start to the season under former manager Gerry Seoane left the legendary club languishing in the relegation places.
Under Alonso, the club have moved up to seventh, where they are level with sixth-placed Wolfsburg and within striking distance of the European places.
A strong run in the Europa League saw them reach the semi-finals, and they will play their second leg against Jose Mourinho’s Roma at the BayArena on Thursday to recover from their 1-0 first leg defeat away from home.
Alonso’s promise in just his second managerial tenure has attracted interest from clubs with vacancies at the top.
Xhaka could team up with head coach Xabi Alonso (pictured) if he moves to Germany
Tottenham Hotspur, who still lack a permanent manager after Antonio Conte was sacked in March, are said to be interested in installing the World Cup winner and willing to pay the manager’s costly release.
Arsenal planned to relieve their midfielder as they looked to get their own revamp for the summer.
West Ham’s Declan Rice is regarded as a priority signing for the club as they look to build on this season’s success.
The Gunners could also look for a trade deal with the German club as they have long eyed talented striker Moussa Diaby as they look to bolster their squad in attack.