Newly promoted Premier League side Sunderland have reached an agreement with Bayer Leverkusen for the transfer of Swiss international Granit Xhaka.
As reported by Sky Sports, the agreed fee is believed to be around £17 million, with the Black Cats set to pay an initial £13 million and up to £4 million in performance-related add-ons.
Sunderland had already secured personal terms with the 32-year-old last week. The former Arsenal midfielder is expected to sign a three-year contract, bringing a wealth of experience to the club’s engine room as they prepare for life back in the top flight.
In a bid to finalize the deal, Sunderland increased their total bid by £7 million. With an agreement now in place, Xhaka has been granted permission to travel to the United Kingdom for his medicals.
He touched down on British soil on Monday evening via private jet and was spotted disembarking alongside Sunderland owner Kyril Louis-Dreyfus.
Xhaka featured in 33 Bundesliga matches for Leverkusen last season, contributing two goals and seven assists.
Prior to his time in Germany, he enjoyed a long spell at Arsenal, where he amassed 297 appearances, scoring 23 goals and providing 26 assists.
Despite the developments, Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag had expressed his reluctance to lose the midfielder.
Speaking last week, following the high-profile exits of Florian Wirtz and Jeremie Frimpong to Liverpool and Jonathan Tah to Bayern Munich, Ten Hag made his stance clear.
“This club has already sold three important players,” said the former Manchester United manager.
“We won’t let go of any more players; that’s not possible. That would neglect the structure and culture of the squad.
“Clearly, Granit is a leader. He signed for five years and has three years left on his contract. He’s too important for us to let go.”
