Sunderland Captain Granit Xhaka Discusses Departure from Bayer Leverkusen

Sunderland’s captain, Granit Xhaka, has shared insights into his choice to depart Bayer Leverkusen this past August.

A Standout Signing

For many supporters in England, Xhaka is regarded as one of the standout signings of the season.

Decision-Making Process

The 33-year-old midfielder conveyed his thoughts to the Süddeutsche Zeitung: “Some decisions require time, but I arrived at this one quite swiftly.”

“The owner (Kyril Louis-Dreyfus) reached out to me one evening in June, around 11 p.m. In Albania, we believe that a call at such an hour signifies either something troubling or something exceptional.”

Xhaka further elaborated: “There’s a close-knit network in Switzerland, yet I was unaware that a Swiss individual owned an English football club. What truly struck me was that the owner had not approached me directly in any of my prior transfers. That left a lasting impression.”