BREAKING: Arsenal seals deal for 30-year old star, fee in the region of 15m
Arsenal seals deal for 30-year old star, fee in the region of 15m, personal terms agreed, contract until 2027, he will sign for club in June.
Granit Xhaka looks to return to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen close to striking a £13m deal to sign the Arsenal midfielder.
The 30-year-old’s contract expires in June 2024 and there are no negotiations over an extension, with a parting of ways planned seven years after Xhaka joined from another German club, Borussia Mönchengladbach.
The Switzerland international is close to an agreement over personal terms with Leverkusen on a four-year deal.
Xhaka has played a major role in Arsenal’s title push, starting 34 of their 36 Premier League games and coming on as a substitute in one.
The midfielder’s contribution amounted to “probably the best season he has had at the club”, Mikel Arteta said last Friday, but manager and player accept this is a good moment for the relationship to end. Xhaka has faced fierce criticism from Arsenal fans at times during his stay but he intends to depart on a positive note.
With Xhaka entering the final year of his contract at Arsenal and no negotiations taking place over a new deal, Fabrizio Romano reports that the Swiss midfielder is set to sign for Bayer Leverkusen this summer in a €15 million (£13m/$16.3m) deal.
It is believed that the German side are in ‘advanced talks’ to sign Xhaka who is close to agreeing a four-year deal with the club, which would bring to an end a seven-year stay in north London with the Gunners.
Leverkusen have shown an interest in Xhaka for some time and attempted to sign the 30-year-old last summer but were unsuccessful in their pursuit. Sky Germany reported that Xhaka had imagined a return to Germany, while Leverkusen are keen on adding an ‘aggressive leader’ into their midfield ranks.
Xhaka has proven a key figure for Arsenal in a season where they looked on course to win the Premier League title for the majority of the campaign, bouncing back under Mikel Arteta after a turbulent time before that which ultimately saw him lose the captain’s armband to Martin Odegaard.
It looks as though the midfielder will be lacing up his boots in the Bundesliga again next season, having previously played for Borussia Monchengladbach from 2012 to 2016.