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  "path": "/2026/06/27/chelsea-reach-agreement-sign-17m-ex-arsenal-star-xabi-alonso-request-28949893/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-06-27T17:30:53.000Z",
  "site": "https://metro.co.uk",
  "tags": [
    "Football",
    "Sport",
    "Arsenal",
    "Arsenal transfer news",
    "Chelsea FC",
    "Chelsea transfer news",
    "Granit Xhaka",
    "Mikel Arteta",
    "Premier League",
    "Sunderland FC",
    "Sunderland transfer news",
    "Transfer News and Rumours",
    "Xabi Alonso",
    "Sunderland",
    "Chelsea",
    "Sky Sports Germany",
    "Blick",
    "Sign up",
    "€60m (£51.6m) deal to sign Italian right-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta",
    "check our sport page",
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  "textContent": "Granit Xhaka has verbally agreed to join Chelsea this summer (Getty)\n\nSunderland captain Granit Xhaka has reached an agreement to join Chelsea this summer, according to reports.\n\nXhaka returned to the Premier League last year after Sunderland agreed a deal with Bayer Leverkusen worth £13 million plus £4m in add-ons.\n\nThe 33-year-old, who spent seven seasons at Arsenal, quickly established himself as a key figure at Sunderland, helping Regis Le Bris’ side finish seventh in the Premier League.\n\nAccording to Sky Sports Germany and Swiss outlet Blick, Xabi Alonso has asked Chelsea to sign Xhaka and the midfielder has verbally agreed to make the move to Stamford Bridge.\n\n##  Don't miss a World Cup moment\n\n(Picture: Getty)\n\n\nWe're witnessing history at this World Cup – our daily newsletter helps you make the most of it. Sign up.\n\nChelsea, however, are yet to reach an agreement with Sunderland over a transfer fee and the Black Cats are in a relatively strong negotiating position as Xhaka, who is captaining Switzerland at the World Cup this summer, still has two years remaining on his contract.\n\nAfter leaving Arsenal in 2023, Xhaka became a pivotal player in Alonso’s side at Bayer Leverkusen which went 51 games unbeaten and won the German league and cup double the following year.\n\nGranit Xhaka was a key figure in Xabi Alonso’s Bayer Leverkusen side (Getty)\n\n‘He is not a coach that is looking out for the names or status of players, in terms of who is older or younger, or who has played more games,’ Xhaka said of Alonso during their time together at Leverkusen.\n\n‘During the week, he is thinking about who deserves to play at the weekend because they are training well.\n\n‘He gives every player the chance to prove their importance to the team. I think to manage this is so difficult because you have different types of characters and nationalities, different languages. But he has this experience as a player to give confidence to everyone. That’s why we performed like this as well.’\n\nGranit Xhaka returned to the Premier League with Sunderland last year (Reuters)\n\nMeanwhile, Le Bris highlighted the impact Xhaka made on his Sunderland side last season after they secured qualification for the Europa League.\n\n‘It’s a privilege to coach a player like Granit Xhaka, he’s so demanding with himself and he creates the condition to be demanding with others,’ Le Bris said.\n\n‘It’s not explicit but for the players and the coaching staff it lifts the standards. It’s a real pleasure and a privilege to be the manager of this kind of player. After that the personality is the personality. Granit is emotional and intense and when he becomes a manager – I don’t know when, there’s no rush – he’ll have to respect this personality as well.\n\n‘As a manager you set the tone for the players. If you are too high or too low it becomes a problem but you have to stay real to yourself as well.’\n\nChelsea are also on the verge of completing a €60m (£51.6m) deal to sign Italian right-back Marco Palestra from Atalanta.\n\n**For more stories like this, check our sport page**.\n\n**Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on**Facebook,** Twitter and Instagram**.\n\nComment now Comments \nAdd Metro as a Preferred Source on Google\nAdd as preferred source\n",
  "title": "Chelsea reach agreement to sign £17m former Arsenal star after Xabi Alonso request"
}