Granit Xhaka, Switzerland footballer: Profile, Career, News & Videos

Granit Xhaka is a Swiss professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for and captains both Premier League club Sunderland and the Switzerland national team.

Xhaka began his career with Basel and won the Swiss Super League twice. He moved to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2012, developing a reputation as a technically gifted player and natural leader alongside criticism for his temperament, and acted as club captain from 2015, twice leading the team to UEFA Champions League qualification.

Xhaka signed for Premier League club Arsenal in 2016 for a fee in the region of £30 million, making nearly 300 appearances over seven years, serving as captain, and winning two FA Cups. In 2023, he returned to the Bundesliga with Bayer Leverkusen, helping the club to their first-ever league title in his debut season. In 2025, he returned to England and joined newly-promoted Premier League side Sunderland.

Xhaka was part of the Swiss team that won the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut in 2011 and is currently the nation's record appearance holder, with 152 caps. He represented Switzerland at four FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, 2022 and 2026) and three UEFA European Championships (2016, 2020 and 2024).