Player Profile
Granit Xhaka (Albanian: [gɾanit d͡ʒaka], born 27 September 1992) 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. 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 144 caps. He represented Switzerland at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, 2018 and 2022, and the UEFA European Championship in 2016, 2020 and 2024.
Photo: Wikimedia Commons
International Record (Switzerland)
Bio
Club Career
Iconic Moments
Xhaka was the midfield leader of Bayer Leverkusen's historic unbeaten Bundesliga season, captaining the side through their remarkable run.
A remarkable career renaissance — after struggles at Arsenal, Xhaka moved to Leverkusen and immediately won the most remarkable Bundesliga title in history.
Switzerland came back from 3-1 down to beat France 3-3 (5-4 on penalties) in the Euro 2020 round of 16, with Xhaka scoring one of the comeback goals.
One of the greatest upsets in European Championship history, eliminating the reigning world champions France in a dramatic shootout.
Was the midfield leader as Leverkusen went the entire Bundesliga season unbeaten, winning their first-ever title.
Transformed from an Arsenal reject into the engine of the most historic Bundesliga season ever.
Led Switzerland to a shock penalty shootout victory over world champions France at Euro 2020.
The biggest result in Swiss football history, with Xhaka's leadership central to the upset.