Granit Xhaka, the Swiss midfielder, has officially parted ways with Arsenal Football Club and joined German side Bayer Leverkusen in a deal worth 25 million euros (£21.4 million). The 30-year-old has signed a five-year contract with the Bundesliga club, marking the next chapter in his football career.
Xhaka initially joined Arsenal in 2016 and had a successful tenure with the club. He even served as the team’s captain for a brief period in 2019. However, with just one year left on his contract, his departure from Arsenal was anticipated during this summer transfer window.
While Xhaka’s departure has been confirmed, Arsenal is on the verge of making a significant signing of their own. The club is closing in on a British record deal to bring in England midfielder Declan Rice from West Ham.
During his time at Arsenal, Xhaka made 297 appearances and scored 23 goals. His contributions played a part in the club winning the FA Cup twice and finishing as runners-up in the Premier League last season. In his final game for Arsenal, a 5-0 victory against Wolves, Xhaka scored twice and received a standing ovation when he was substituted late in the match.
It’s worth noting that Xhaka’s journey at Arsenal wasn’t without its ups and downs. Following an incident involving an altercation with Arsenal fans after being substituted in a match against Crystal Palace in October 2019, Xhaka openly expressed his desire to leave the club. Consequently, he was stripped of the captaincy, just weeks after being appointed as captain by former manager Unai Emery.
Arsenal had previously rejected a 15 million euros (£12.9 million) bid from Roma for Xhaka in 2021. Later that summer, he signed a one-year contract extension with Arsenal, committing to the club until 2024.
Prior to his time at Arsenal, Xhaka spent four years playing in the Bundesliga for Borussia Monchengladbach. His impressive performances in Germany led to his move to Arsenal, with the transfer fee reported to be around £35 million in 2016.
As Xhaka embarks on a new adventure with Bayer Leverkusen, both Arsenal and the player will be looking ahead to the future, with memories of their time together and the impact he made on the club’s history.

