Xhaka agrees personal terms with Chelsea weeks after insisting he was happy at Sunderland

Granit Xhaka has agreed personal terms with Chelsea, according to Sky Germany, in a striking reversal from the Sunderland captain who said just weeks ago that he was relieved to have a summer free of transfer rumours. Chelsea are in active talks with Sunderland over a deal, though the Championship club regard the Swiss midfielder as not for sale.

The move would reunite Xhaka with new Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso, under whom he spent two years at Bayer Leverkusen, winning the Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal in 2024. Alonso has identified midfield as a priority this summer and is understood to be targeting experienced players as he builds his squad at Stamford Bridge.

The timing is notable. Speaking to Swiss outlet Blick earlier this month, Xhaka was emphatic about his contentment in the north-east of England. “I’m not even thinking about a transfer,” he said. “I’m really happy to finally have a summer without any speculation about my future. This allows me to fully focus on the World Cup.”

Xhaka is currently representing Switzerland at the 2026 World Cup, where they have reached the round of 32 and will face Algeria. He had described Sunderland in similarly warm terms after joining, comparing the city to Basel and the St. Johann district where he grew up. “It’s a bit like home for me,” he said. “You can only perform at your best when you feel comfortable in a place.”

The 33-year-old was appointed club captain by manager Regis Le Bris within weeks of signing for the Black Cats and was instrumental as Sunderland finished seventh in the Premier League in their first top-flight season back. He had been expected to lead the club into the Europa League next season.

Alonso’s appointment at Chelsea has also come with an elevated title — manager rather than head coach — a distinction that suggests he will hold greater authority over recruitment than his predecessors at the club. Whether Sunderland can be persuaded to sell a player they consider integral to their Europa League ambitions remains the central obstacle to the deal.