Xhaka joins Leverkusen - What does the former Arsenal captain add to Alonso's side?

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After already signing Alejandro Grimaldo and Jonas Hofmann, Bayer Leverkusen have secured another high-profile signing ahead of the 2023/24 Bundesliga season. On Thursday, Leverkusen announced the long-expected Granit Xhaka deal. Xhaka arrives from Arsenal and has signed a deal until the end of the 2027/28 season. Unlike Hofmann, who was signed for just €10m from Gladbach thanks to an exit clause, Xhaka will be more expensive. According to The Athletic, Leverkusen have paid €25m, which makes the Swiss national team player the third most expensive signing in club history. 

Market Value

G. Xhaka Defensive Midfield

€20.00m

In fact, only two players aged 30 or older were more expensive in Bundesliga history: Mats Hummels in 2019 (from Dortmund to Bayern) and Sadio Mané (from Liverpool to Bayern) last summer. But despite his age, Leverkusen are adamant that they have added a top player to their squad. "In Granit, we have been able to bring in an absolute top player," director of sport Simon Rolfes said in a club statement. "His ability on the pitch is well known. But, above all, there are few players who are able to so convincingly lead a team like he does thanks to his outstanding mentality and personality," said the Bayer 04 sporting managing director in praise of the 30-year-old midfielder.”

Xhaka also knows the Bundesliga well. From 2012 to 2016, Xhaka played for Leverkusen’s rivals Gladbach. "I know the league inside out, and I watched it when I was in London,” Xhaka said in an interview with Leverkusen’s official homepage. “Bayer 04 is a club with an impressive history and ambitious targets. Above all, I see it as a club with a great future. Discussions with the management have been incredibly motivating. Everybody here is ambitious and wants to achieve something – I'm very much looking forward to the next few years."

Stats

G. Xhaka Defensive Midfield

Borussia Mönchengladbach

Career stats–
All competitions

Games

140

Goals

9

Assists

8

Granit Xhaka: What can the former Arsenal captain add to Leverkusen?

His Bundesliga experience aside, what will Leverkusen get in Xhaka? Left-footed, Xhaka is a defensive midfielder with significant upside in the attack scoring nine goals and seven assists in 47 games for Arsenal last season. Opta Stats provides some interesting insight into the player’s performances for Arsenal last season. Among central midfielders, only Christian Eriksen (Man United) and Pascal Groß (Brighton; both eight) had more assists than Xhaka in the Premier League last season. And only four central midfielders scored more often. 

Xhaka was also fourth in the league with 40 key passes, fifth with 829 successful passes in the opponent’s half, and with 1983 touches overall. Defensively Xhaka also stood out. The Swiss midfielder ranked in the top 20 with 92 ground duels won and 27 successful tackles. In other words, the former Arsenal midfielder joins Leverkusen while still providing strong numbers for an Arsenal side that challenged for the Premier League title last season. 

For Leverkusen boss Xabi Alonso, Xhaka could very well become the missing piece in a side full of young talent. Together with Robert Andrich, Xhaka could form the new backbone of a Leverkusen side that, in Florian Wirtz, includes one of the most talented midfielders in Europe. In fact, Xhaka’s experience could provide Alonso with a much-needed mouthpiece on the field, and his skills, together with his leadership ability, could make Leverkusen one of the most interesting sides to watch ahead of the upcoming Bundesliga season.