Sunderland’s bold decision to bring in Granit Xhaka over the summer always looked like astute business — landing a seasoned, combative midfield brain with the kind of experience that can anchor a newly promoted side. While the roughly £17 million outlay for a player approaching his mid-30s might have raised eyebrows, that figure has quickly begun to look like a steal.
By the midpoint of the 2025-26 season, what once seemed a smart acquisition is increasingly being seen as a game-changer for Sunderland. With numerous Premier League starts under his belt, a goal and several assists, Xhaka has become the central figure in Regis Le Bris’ setup, providing the consistency and leadership the Black Cats rely on.
There are clear reasons why Xhaka is one of the standout transfers of the summer: he racks up a high volume of passes with excellent accuracy, creates key opportunities, and applies disciplined defensive work — all of which help Sunderland operate as a cohesive unit rather than a patchwork of individuals.
Those numbers are notable for a midfielder past his prime, but they only tell part of the story. His influence has been a big factor in Sunderland’s comfortable position in the league table, and his role is set to become even more vital as the club braces for a demanding run of fixtures and the loss of several players to the African Cup of Nations. With six squad members called up to AFCON in Morocco, Sunderland will depend heavily on someone capable of injecting both structure and creativity into the team.
Xhaka’s blend of passing, tactical control, and leadership gives Sunderland a reliable axis around which the youthful squad can function, reducing the tendency to overcommit or panic under pressure. This stability is especially important when such a large portion of the squad is absent and the fixture list intensifies.
In short, what began as a shrewd piece of transfer business is now looking like a defining moment in Sunderland’s season — one that may prove their most impactful piece of summer recruitment, and perhaps one of the Premier League’s best value signings in 2025.
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