Granit Xhaka

Granit Xhaka, born on September 27, 1992, is a distinguished Swiss professional footballer who currently serves as a defensive midfielder and captain for both Premier League club Sunderland and the Switzerland national team.

Xhaka's football journey began at Basel, where he celebrated two Swiss Super League titles. His move to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2012 marked a significant turning point in his career, as he quickly established himself as a technically skilled player and a natural leader. During his tenure, he captained the team starting in 2015, successfully guiding them to UEFA Champions League qualification on two occasions.

In 2016, Xhaka made a high-profile transfer to Arsenal for a fee in the region of thirty million pounds. Over the next seven years, he made nearly three hundred appearances, took on the captaincy, and contributed to the club's success by winning two FA Cups. In 2023, he returned to the Bundesliga, joining Bayer Leverkusen, where he played a pivotal role in securing the club's first-ever league title in his debut season.

On the international stage, Xhaka was part of the Swiss squad that triumphed at the 2009 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He made his senior debut in 2011 and has since become the nation's record appearance holder with one hundred forty-four caps. He has represented Switzerland in three FIFA World Cups (2014, 2018, and 2022) and in the UEFA European Championships in 2016, 2020, and 2024.