Why Granit Xhaka was right to reject Chelsea as Sunderland receive massive transfer boost

Sunderland skipper Granit Xhaka is making the close determination rejecting Chelsea successful favour of staying astatine the Stadium of Light, a erstwhile Black Cats and Arsenal midfielder has exclusively told Sports Mole.

The Switzerland planetary was hitherto linked with a daze determination to Stamford Bridge successful bid to reunite with Xabi Alonso, whom helium enjoyed an fantabulous narration with astatine Bayer Leverkusen during their 2023-24 Invincibles campaign.

However, aft it was reported that Chelsea could beryllium blocked from signing Xhaka aft Sunderland rejected an £8m offer, the doorway has present firmly slammed unopen connected the midfielder joining the Blues.

Xhaka was supposedly unfastened to making the power to the English capital, but pursuing conversations with the Sunderland hierarchy, helium has pledged his loyalty to the Black Cats again.

The 33-year-old was instrumental successful Sunderland's palmy archetypal play backmost successful the Premier League, scoring 1 extremity and mounting up six much successful 34 appearances arsenic Regis Le Bris's broadside unexpectedly qualified for the Europa League.

Why Sunderland's Granit Xhaka made close determination rejecting Chelsea

After Xhaka's reasons for snubbing Chelsea were revealed, ex-Sunderland midfielder Stefan Schwarz has praised his determination to proceed connected Wearside and crook down the accidental to instrumentality to a accepted Big Six club.

"It’s shot and thing tin happen," Schwarz exclusively told Sports Mole. "The narration betwixt Alonso and Xhaka, Alonso would similar Xhaka astatine Chelsea due to the fact that of his acquisition and enactment and tin assistance him and besides the squad adjacent season.

"For Xhaka, the champion spot for him is astatine Sunderland. He has done a large occupation truthful acold with his show and enactment successful his archetypal season, starring Sunderland into Europe.

"So determination is much to travel from him astatine Sunderland arsenic this twelvemonth is adjacent bigger than past play arsenic being successful Europa League is pugnacious with Premier League and Xhaka’s acquisition tin truly assistance the team."

Sunderland bushed Xhaka's admirers Chelsea 2-1 connected the last time of the Premier League season, a effect which ensured the Black Cats' spot successful the Europa League portion simultaneously extinguishing the Blues' prospects of playing successful Europe adjacent term.

Would Granit Xhaka tarnish his Arsenal bequest by joining Chelsea?

Had Chelsea managed to twist Sunderland's limb and bring Xhaka to Stamford Bridge, the absorption from Arsenal supporters would person been fascinating to witness.

A plethora of players person swapped reddish for bluish down the years - astir notably Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Olivier Giroud - and nary are held successful precocious respect by Gooners anymore.

However, Xhaka's lawsuit should person been different; the Switzerland midfielder is past his premier years - adjacent if his displays successful 2025-26 suggested different - would not beryllium joining a nonstop rubric rival, and helium arguably owes Arsenal fans nothing.

Xhaka and his household whitethorn ne'er hide that fateful time against Crystal Palace successful 2019, and his unexpected renaissance was down to the religion placed successful him by Mikel Arteta and his teammates, not the supporters who wanted him gone.

The midfielder got astir of those fans backmost connected broadside by the clip helium left, but not to the constituent wherever those supporters who called for his exit merit unwavering loyalty from the midfielder.

Stefan Schwarz was speaking to Sports Mole connected behalf of William Hill's England to triumph the World Cup odds.