Chelsea in talks for Sunderland’s Granit Xhaka amid potential shift in transfer strategy

By Harry Sutton — 27 June 2026 — 4 min read

Chelsea has initiated discussions with the representatives of Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka regarding a potential transfer. Despite these talks, Sunderland maintains that the experienced player is not for sale, emphasizing his importance to the club’s plans. Xhaka, who is currently under contract until 2028, played a pivotal role in helping the Black Cats secure qualification for the Europa League last season.

The Switzerland international is reportedly open to reuniting with Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso. The two previously worked together at Bayer Leverkusen, where they won the Bundesliga title in 2024. While contact has been made with Xhaka’s camp from Stamford Bridge, personal terms have not yet been agreed upon with Chelsea.

Sunderland’s Stance and Xhaka’s Impact

Sunderland, having qualified for the Europa League at Chelsea’s expense on the final day of last season, is under no financial pressure to sell key players. Sources within the club have stated their intention to keep Xhaka, who joined from Leverkusen last summer in a deal valued at €20million. He was immediately appointed captain and was instrumental in the newly-promoted club’s seventh-place finish in the Premier League.

Xhaka, who will turn 34 in September, missed only four league games for the Wearside club. He garnered significant praise for his leadership qualities, which contributed to the team’s strong performance under manager Regis Le Bris. His impact on and off the pitch at Sunderland is seen as a valuable asset that could benefit Chelsea.

The midfielder is currently with the Switzerland national team, participating in the World Cup, where they have advanced to the last-32 stage of the competition. His departure would be a significant blow to Sunderland, especially given his recent comments after securing Europa League qualification, where he expressed a desire for more success with the club.

Chelsea’s Evolving Transfer Strategy

A potential move for Xhaka would signify a notable shift in Chelsea’s transfer policy. The club has, for the past two seasons, fielded the youngest team in the Premier League and has not signed a player aged 30 or over during that period. Members of the club’s leadership, including co-controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, have acknowledged the need for adjustments to improve recruitment.

The interest in Xhaka suggests a desire to bring more experienced voices into the dressing room, addressing past criticisms regarding a perceived lack of leadership and concerns about team culture. Xhaka’s extensive experience in the Premier League, having spent seven seasons at Arsenal, is also considered a significant advantage, as it would minimize the need for adaptation to life in the capital.

Chelsea’s pursuit of a midfielder has been part of their summer plans, amidst growing expectations that Enzo Fernandez could move to Real Madrid. While Chelsea has not received a formal approach for the Argentina international, and values him at around £120m, sources in Spain indicate internal support at Real Madrid for such a transfer, including from club president Florentino Perez and new manager Jose Mourinho.

In addition to their interest in Xhaka, Chelsea is also set to sign defender Marco Palestra from Atalanta. Other players such as Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana, and Tosin Adarabioyo face uncertain futures at the club.

The potential acquisition of Xhaka, a player who turns 34 later this year, represents a new direction for Chelsea under its current ownership, as they have not acquired a player at such a late stage of his career before. The oldest acquisition of the BlueCo era to date was defender Kalidou Kouilbaly, who joined from Napoli at the age of 31 in 2022.

The strong connection between Xhaka and Alonso, who achieved a domestic double of league and cup together at Leverkusen, is seen as a key factor in Alonso’s determination to reunite with the midfielder at Chelsea.

Despite Sunderland’s firm stance that Xhaka is not for sale, the situation highlights the challenges faced by clubs outside the traditional top tier in retaining their best players when interest from larger clubs emerges. Xhaka’s contract with Sunderland runs until 2028.

Source: bbc.co.uk