Chelsea are closing in on a surprise midfield signing as transfer insider Fabrizio Romano reports that Granit Xhaka is fully prepared to join the club this summer.
The veteran Swiss midfielder is currently at Sunderland but appears keen to move on and reunite with Chelsea’s new manager Xabi Alonso at Stamford Bridge.
Xhaka and Alonso previously worked together at Bayer Leverkusen, where the midfielder was one of the standout performers in European football during their time together.
Romano broke the news on X, confirming that Xhaka’s desire to return to London is the driving force behind the potential deal taking shape so quickly.
“BREAKING: Granit Xhaka can be Chelsea surprise signing in midfield,” Romano posted, adding that he has “expressed desire to return to London.”
Romano was emphatic in his assessment, stating that Xhaka is “accepting any contract condition just to join #CFC, reunite with Xabi and go back to London. Deal on.”
The 33-year-old is no stranger to the Premier League, having previously impressed during a long stint with Arsenal before his move to Leverkusen.
His age means there is an element of risk involved, but Xhaka demonstrated last season that he remains fully capable of competing at the highest level.
Chelsea’s young squad could benefit enormously from having an experienced, winning midfield presence like Xhaka helping to set standards day to day.
Alonso will likely see his fellow Leverkusen alumnus as a crucial player for getting his football philosophy across to the rest of the dressing room quickly.
The signing would also carry a touch of irony for Arsenal supporters, who allowed Xhaka to leave and may now watch him thrive under one of the most exciting managers in the game.
Nobody could have predicted Xhaka ending up at Chelsea, but this deal has the hallmarks of smart, purposeful business from the club’s recruitment team.
If the deal is completed as Romano suggests, Chelsea fans will be hoping the Swiss veteran can provide the composure and leadership that a title-challenging squad demands.
