Granit Xhaka emphasises Sunderland summer 'transfer' stance that fans will love

Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka has once again reiterated his commitment to the club, insisting that he has is “not even thinking about a transfer” any time soon.

The Swiss midfielder has been a revelation on Wearside since completing a high-profile move to the Stadium of Light last summer, and played a pivotal role in helping the Black Cats’ to a wholly unexpected Europa League qualification this season.

But while many onlookers were shocked by Sunderland’s success, Xhaka has claimed that he was not. Speaking with continental outlet Blick while away on international duty ahead of the upcoming World Cup, the 33-year-old said: “To be honest, I’m not surprised.

“Throughout my career, I’ve always made all my decisions based on my gut feeling. The move from [Bayer] Leverkusen to Sunderland wasn’t a snap decision. I had a lot of discussions with the owner, sporting director, and manager before I signed.

“Sure, you could say that winning the league title with Leverkusen was a bit of a surprise. The same goes for this season, finishing seventh in the Premier League as a newly promoted team. But I see it a little differently because I see all the hard work that goes into these successes. If you work hard day in and day out, you can achieve a lot.”

Xhaka then turned his attention to how well he has settled in the North East, emphasising both his love for the city of Sunderland, and his desire to remain at the Stadium of Light for the foreseeable future.

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On his life on Wearside, he continued: “It’s a bit like home for me. The city feels like Basel. Like the St. Johann district where I grew up. You can only perform at your best when you feel comfortable in a place.

“For me, the most important thing is that my family is happy. And we are in Sunderland. I’m not even thinking about a transfer. I’m really happy to finally have a summer without any speculation about my future. That’s rarely been the case in recent years. This allows me to fully focus on the World Cup.”

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