Why I left Leverkusen to join newly-promoted club — Ex-Arsenal captain Xhaka

Granit Xhaka has described his move to newly-promoted Premier League side Sunderland as the “biggest challenge of his career” after signing a three-year contract with the club.

The former Arsenal captain left Bayer Leverkusen, where he spent two years, to join Sunderland following their promotion from the Championship via the play-offs.

Despite the difficulties promoted teams often face in the Premier League, Xhaka is determined to help Sunderland establish themselves in the top flight.

“I’m very proud to be here,” he told Sunderland’s official website.

“When I spoke to the club, I was excited and I felt the energy, and the mentality that all the people and players have. It’s exactly what I wanted, and I have a very good feeling.

"We are back to where this club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history,”Xhaka added,

“This may be the biggest challenge of my career so far. But I took it, and I want to show that day by day and on the pitch as well. I am sure this team will give everything on the pitch."

After leaving the Gunners, Xhaka starred in Bayer Leverkusen’s remarkable 2023-24 campaign in which the German club won the Bundesliga and both domestic cup competitions.