Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka makes "big privilege" claim over Chelsea summer transfer interest

By Ben Sully | 12 Sep 2026 00:45, Last updated: 12 Sep 2026 00:48

Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka has conceded it was "a large privilege" to beryllium the taxable of a bid from Chelsea successful the summertime transportation window. 

Xhaka played a cardinal relation successful Sunderland's palmy 2025-26 run aft arriving from Bayer Leverkusen for an archetypal £13m past summer. 

The Swiss planetary started 32 of his 34 Premier League appearances arsenic the Black Cats secured European qualification successful their archetypal play backmost successful the apical formation since 2016-17.

Xhaka was past linked with a determination distant successful the summertime arsenic Chelsea made an effort to reunite the midfielder with his erstwhile Bayer Leverkusen caput manager Xabi Alonso.

Chelsea saw an £8m bid rejected by Sunderland arsenic Xhaka yet decided to remain successful the North East contempt reportedly being initially unfastened to the determination to Stamford Bridge.

Xhaka makes Chelsea transportation admission

Xhaka has present breached his soundlessness connected the situation, admitting helium appreciated Chelsea's involvement portion reaffirming his committedness to the Black Cats.

“When I signed the declaration here, determination was a program down the scenes, and the program was to instrumentality to this project, to judge successful this project, and to enactment for this project,” Xhaka told the Sports Agents Podcast.

“And I ever accidental to myself and to the radical around, I didn't travel present for 1 season. It's a large privilege that a shot nine similar Chelsea privation a player, astir 34 years old.

“There was thing behind, yes, for sure, but my committedness to the nine was consecutive for it.”

Xhaka looking guardant to European adventure 

Xhaka feels helium inactive has important enactment to bash with the Black Cats, including a Europa League run that gets underway with a location crippled against AZ Alkmaar connected Wednesday.

“When I spoke with the proprietor of Sunderland, I told him from the beginning, I don't person the feeling that this task is done yet, and this is my motivation.

“I privation to bask the European shot with this shot nine with the fans, and hopefully we tin get much aft this season.”

Before helium focuses connected the commencement of Sunderland's European campaign, Xhaka volition look to get 1 implicit his erstwhile nine successful Sunderland's Premier League clash against Arsenal connected Saturday.