Granit Xhaka confirms transfer decision after Chelsea deal taken out of Xabi Alonso’s hands

Granit Xhaka has been speaking about his future at Sunderland after Chelsea were delivered a big blow in their pursuit of the Switzerland international midfielder

Granit Xhaka has confirmed his decision to stay at Sunderland after the Black Cats fended off interest from Chelsea for the experienced midfielder.

The Blues launched an £8million offer for the 33-year-old towards the end of last month but it was swiftly rebuffed by Sunderland, who were adamant Xhaka was not for sale at any price. The Black Cats, who qualified for European football for the first time in 53 years last season, kept that same position throughout Chelsea’s pursuit.

Xhaka, sources say, initially gave the green light to signing for Chelsea and reuniting with his former Bayer Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso. However, following conversations with Sunderland, Xhaka reaffirmed his intention to continue his career at the Stadium of Light, less than 12 months after the Switzerland international signed from Leverkusen.

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Now, Xhaka has publicly confirmed his future will be in the north-east. “Sunderland has been my home since day one,” said Xhaka after Switzerland’s penalty shootout victory over Colombia on Wednesday morning. “We are all very happy.

“I’ve decided to stay where I am; the most important thing is family. I am ready to make history with them.”

Sources close to the Stadium of Light said Xhaka’s decision to stay with the club was largely down to the excitement in featuring for Sunderland in European competition next season, while his strong relationship with the supporters was also a significant factor.

From Chelsea’s point of view, this was a transfer pursuit that was effectively taken out of their hands. The Blues angered Sunderland officials with an £8m bid, according to sources, though it sounds as if it would not have made too much difference if it was a £30m offer.

Xhaka is the exact archetype of Chelsea’s new sort of transfer targets this summer. The Blues are in the market for ‘ready-made’ and experienced players in this window with BlueCo, the club’s ownership group, tweaking their recruitment model after a disappointing 2025/26 season.