Granit Xhaka Leaves Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen in £21.4m Deal
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has completed a move to German side Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth 25m euros (£21.4m). The Swiss international has signed a four-year contract with the Bundesliga club, bringing an end to his four-year stay at the Emirates Stadium.
Xhaka joined Arsenal from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016 and went on to make over 150 appearances for the Gunners. He was a regular starter under manager Mikel Arteta this season, making 28 Premier League appearances and scoring two goals.
The 27-year-old had been linked with a move away from Arsenal for some time, with Bayer Leverkusen emerging as the favourites to secure his signature. The German side have now sealed the deal, with Xhaka set to join up with his new teammates ahead of the start of the new season.
Xhaka’s departure marks the end of an eventful four-year spell at Arsenal. The Swiss international was a divisive figure amongst fans, with his performances often drawing criticism from supporters. He was also involved in a number of controversial incidents, most notably when he was stripped of the captaincy after swearing at supporters during a match against Crystal Palace in 2019.
Despite his mixed fortunes at Arsenal, Xhaka leaves the club with a number of honours to his name. He won two FA Cups and two Community Shields during his time at the Emirates Stadium, as well as helping the Gunners reach the Europa League final last season.
Xhaka’s move to Leverkusen is a major coup for the German side, who have been in the market for a new midfielder this summer. The 27-year-old will bring a wealth of experience to the club, having played in the Premier League and Champions League for Arsenal.
The move also represents a fresh start for Xhaka, who will be looking to reignite his career in Germany. He will be hoping to help Leverkusen challenge for honours this season, with the club aiming to break into the top four of the Bundesliga and qualify for next season’s Champions League.
Xhaka’s departure from Arsenal marks the end of an era at the club, with the Swiss international having been a key figure in the Gunners’ midfield since his arrival in 2016. The club will now be looking to reinvest the money from his sale, with Arteta reportedly keen to bring in a new midfielder before the start of the new season.
The move also serves as a reminder of Arsenal’s current financial situation, with the club having been forced to sell one of their star players in order to raise funds. It remains to be seen how they will use the money from Xhaka’s sale, but it is clear that Arteta will need to be shrewd in the transfer market if he is to turn things around at the Emirates Stadium.