Granit Xhaka is set to leave Arsenal and join hands with German club Bayer Leverkusen for £13 million.
According to famous journalist Fabrizio Romano, who recently won the Best Football Journalist award for his notoriously accurate transfer updates, the 30-year-old Swiss midfielder is set to leave Arsenal by the end of this summer after serving for the Gunners for 7 long years. Both the personal and financial teams have been agreed by both parties with Xhaka said to be leaving England to Leverkusen for a meagre £13 million deal.
Granit had a key role this season in leading Arsenal’s pursuit of the title charge. They may have failed in winning the Premier League title but Xhaka did win the hearts of Arsenal fans back after their 2019 tussle. The midfielder scores five crucial goals this season and registered 7 assists in a total of 45 appearances for the club.
Leverkusen’s head coach Xabi Alonso is looking to add experienced candidates to his troop and therefore wants Arsenal’s vice-captain under him. He may probably give the Swiss international, an armband and let him handle the side on the pitch.
Meanwhile, LondonWorld has also reported that Granit Xhaka has accepted Leverkusen’s offer and informed the same to Arteta who will decide the former’s future after the end of this season; the decision is likely to be in the favor of the German side. Xhaka, however still has 12 months remaining at London with an option to extend the contract for 12 more months.
In his Twitter post, Fabrizio wrote that Xhaka will sign a deal until the summer of 2027.
Granit Xhaka, set to leave Arsenal at the end of the season. No negotiations over new deal and plan to part ways in June. 🚨⚪️🔴 #AFC
Bayer Leverkusen are in advanced talks to sign him — €15m fee.
Understand personal terms are almost agreed over four year deal — June 2027. pic.twitter.com/0MlyJwNwhm
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) May 16, 2023
Granit Xhaka came back to form thanks to Mikel Arteta and has a deal in hand from the foreign club because of him. After being stripped off captaincy and booed openly by his own fans, Xhaka’s time at Arsenal seemed farfetched.
Arteta in a recent interview talked about Granit but did not lay a clear light on this future. “Obviously where we are with each individual is probably different in terms of timing but the clarity is there,” he told reporters. “We have communicated to each of them what the intentions are and we are trying to get that done as quickly as possible but respecting and not losing any focus on what is the real deal right now.”
The Spaniard added: “As you can understand I’m not going to be replying to certain stories. I’m extremely happy with Granit, I think he is having an incredible season, probably the best season he has had at the club and we are really happy to have him.”
Arteta and Xhaka both as of now remain focused on remaining two fixtures of Arsenal in lieu of ensuring that their team finished the league on a high.
