Even if I die, Sunderland! SON of the same age, got on a plane to England! EPL Returns for the first time in two years for a transfer fee of 31 billion won

Jul 29, 2025

Even if I die, Sunderland! SON of the same age, got on a plane to England! EPL Returns for the first time in two years for a transfer fee of 31 billion won
Source=Fabricio Romano SNS



Even if I die, Sunderland! SON of the same age, got on a plane to England! EPL Returns for the first time in two years for a transfer fee of 31 billion won
EPAYonhap News
Former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka (33, Leverkusen) is close to joining Sunderland.

Transfer expert Fabrizio Romano reported on the 29th (Korea time) that Xhaka boarded a flight to England with his agents to undergo a medical test ahead of joining Sunderland. It also released photos taken inside the private jet.

According to Romano and Sky Sports, Xhaka plans to sign a three-year contract with Sunderland for a transfer fee of 17 million pounds (about 31 billion won).




Given the age of 33, the fact that he invested by no means a small amount shows Sunderland's ambition to be promoted to the EPL for the first time in eight years.

Romano is the 'dream target' of Kirill Dreyfus, owner of Sunderland. Now the dream has become a reality,' he said.

Even if I die, Sunderland! SON of the same age, got on a plane to England! EPL Returns for the first time in two years for a transfer fee of 31 billion won
Swiss defensive midfielder Xhaka played a total of 297 games for Arsenal for seven years from 2016 to 2023 after playing Basel (2010-2012) and Borussia Mönchengladbach (2012-2016).




For Xhaka, who led Arsenal to two FA Cup wins in 2017 and 2020, the EPL is a familiar stage. Tottenham captain Son Heung-min, who is the same age, frequently clashed in the North London derby.

Xhaka, who moved to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023, backed Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga win in the 2023-2024 season.

Xhaka, who played 50 games (four goals), including the Cup tournament, played 49 games (two goals) without injury in the 2024-2025 season.




Even if I die, Sunderland! SON of the same age, got on a plane to England! EPL Returns for the first time in two years for a transfer fee of 31 billion won
AFP Yonhap News
Last week, Leverkusen coach Erik ten Hag said that with Florian Birtz and Jeremy Frimpong moving to Liverpool and Jonatantha to Bayern Munich, the main resource Xhaka cannot be transferred.

He said "Leverkusen has already sold three important players. No more players can be sent out. It's impossible"Jaka is the leader. There are three years left of the five-year contract. An important player that we can't let go of."

However, he could not break the will of the player who wished to return to the EPL.

After being promoted, Sunderland has already invested £107 million (about KRW 1980 billion) in recruiting six players. Strasbourg midfielder Khabib Diara, Brighton winger Simone Addinga, AS Roma midfielder Enzo Le Pie and Atletico Madrid full-back Hanyl are also showing their willingness to stay with Mandaba.



This article was translated by Naver AI translator.