Swiss midfielder Granit Xhaka will stay at Sunderland.
According to information from Idman.Biz, citing "The Athletic", the 33-year-old player decided not to leave the club during the summer transfer window after London club Chelsea's offer was rejected.
According to the source, Chelsea offered £8 million (€9.2 million, $10.5 million) for the player, but Sunderland considered this amount unacceptable. After the negotiations, Xhaka confirmed his loyalty to the club, where he is considered a key figure. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso was personally interested in the transfer of the Swiss, with whom he previously worked at Bayer Leverkusen.
Xhaka joined Sunderland in the summer of 2025 from Bayer Leverkusen for a transfer fee of up to £17.5 million, including bonuses. Last season, he played 36 games in the Premier League and helped the team finish seventh and qualify for the Europa League. Previously, as a midfielder at Bayer Leverkusen, he won the German championship in the 2023/24 season without losing a single game, also winning the German Cup and reaching the Europa League final.
Xhaka is currently participating in the 2026 World Cup with the Switzerland national team. The team has advanced to the 1/8 finals.