James Copley: Sunderland's Granit Xhaka captaincy question has only one answer after transfer drama
Granit Xhaka’s Chelsea flirtation hurt, but Sunderland have drawn a line - and their captain should be backed
Granit Xhaka staying at Sunderland does not mean the last week did not happen.
It does not mean there was no Chelsea interest. It does not mean there was no temptation. It does not mean there was not a period where the Sunderland captain was, at the very least, open to exploring the prospect of a move to Stamford Bridge. But a line has now been decisively drawn in the sand.
Sunderland have made their position clear. Xhaka has made his decision. The outcome is that one of the most important players at the football club remains on Wearside and, from my point of view, there is no reason why he should not continue to lead this team as captain.
There have been some Sunderland voices who have questioned his credentials for the armband after the Chelsea transfer saga. That is understandable to a point, because emotions were running high and Xhaka had built such a strong connection with supporters last season. When a player speaks with such conviction about the club, the city and the journey, it is always going to sting when another possibility suddenly opens up.
And let’s not rewrite history. This was not a 20-minute flirtation. It lasted several days. Xhaka was attracted by the chance to work with Xabi Alonso again, and there were clearly discussions around what that move could look like. Whether personal terms were discussed or effectively agreed, the important point is that Chelsea believed there was enough encouragement to pursue it and Sunderland were forced to stand firm. That hurt because of who Xhaka is.
It hurt because he was not just another player last season. He was the heartbeat of the team, the standard-setter, the on-field organiser and the figure who so often embodied Sunderland’s rise. Supporters bought into him because he bought into Sunderland. That is why this episode felt personal for some.
But football is football. These things happen. Players are ambitious. Clubs test situations. Agents explore possibilities. Managers pick up the phone. Former relationships matter. Opportunities appear, sometimes unexpectedly, and even the most committed professionals are entitled to consider them. The key point now is what happened next.
Sunderland did not cave. They did not allow themselves to be dragged into a messy, prolonged saga. They made it clear Xhaka was not for sale, and they backed their own sporting project. Xhaka, for his part, has come to what I believe is the right decision. He stays at Sunderland, he remains part of something meaningful, and he now has the chance to lead the club into another hugely exciting chapter. That should be enough.
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There is no doubt in my mind about Xhaka’s professionalism. None at all. Whatever happened during those six days, he has never struck me as the type of player who would down tools, sulk or allow outside noise to affect his standards. Quite the opposite. His whole career has been built on intensity, accountability and leadership. Now he has to show that again, and Sunderland supporters should give him the chance to do so.
This does not need to become a stick to beat him with every time he misplaces a pass or every time results turn. The Chelsea episode happened, it was uncomfortable, and it has now been dealt with swiftly and decisively. He remains a Sunderland player. He remains a brilliant one. And if he leads this team with the same authority and commitment he showed last season, the best thing Sunderland fans can do is back him.