The Sunderland truth behind Granit Xhaka exit links amid Besiktas and Juventus transfer claims

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has been linked with a surprise summer move to Besiktas in the Turkish media.

The claim comes from Fotomac, who report that the Istanbul club are looking at midfield options amid uncertainty over Wilfred Ndidi’s future. Nottingham Forest midfielder Ibrahim Sangare is also named as a possible target, with Besiktas said to be in the market for a new number six.

Xhaka is the surprise name on the list, with the report claiming the Sunderland midfielder would be interested in a move to the Super Lig at this stage of his career. It is also claimed that the 33-year-old has been gathering information about Turkish football and life in Istanbul.

Granit Xhaka exit claim examined

At this stage, it is worth treating that with a fair bit of caution. The Turkish press is nothing if not ambitious when it comes to transfer reporting, and players are often presented as being keen on moves when the reality may be quite different. There is no doubt that the Turkish top-flight has become an attractive option financially, helped by tax rules that have allowed clubs to bring in high-profile names. Galatasaray’s deals for Victor Osimhen and Leroy Sane are obvious examples of that. But Xhaka’s situation at Sunderland is very different.

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When Juventus were linked with the former Arsenal and Bayer Leverkusen midfielder during the January window, the rumour was flatly squashed by Sunderland. Xhaka only joined the Black Cats last summer, signed a long-term deal and was personally persuaded to move to Wearside by Kyril Louis-Dreyfus. There has even been some talk around the club of Xhaka potentially moving into a coaching role further down the line, which gives an indication of how Sunderland view his importance beyond just the next few months.

Why a summer exit looks unlikely

Xhaka has quickly become one of Sunderland’s key figures, both on the pitch and inside the dressing room. His leadership, experience and quality have been central to Régis Le Bris’ side, and Sunderland would surely have little interest in losing such a talismanic figure after just one season.

That is not to say Besiktas cannot like the player. Plenty of clubs will. But there is a big difference between interest and a transfer that actually makes sense for Sunderland. For now, this one feels more like a surprise line from abroad than something that should set alarm bells ringing on Wearside. You can, of course, never say never in football, but at present this rumour looks unlikely to materialise into action, given Xhaka’s importance to Sunderland under head coach Le Bris.

Xhaka has been a near ever-present figure for Sunderland this season, making 32 Premier League appearances during a successful 2025-26 campaign. While his main value has been control, leadership and structure in midfield, he has also chipped in with one goal and six assists from deeper areas. His disciplinary record has also remained fairly controlled too, with seven yellow cards and no reds across the league campaign.

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