Transfer Rumours The Sunderland Links/Transfer Rumours Thread - Summer 2025

Yippee do dah

 

Great news to wake up to. Get in a couple of CBs and a striker and we are looking very good

 

Gtfi. That’s a superb signing. **** me im excited.

 

Just seen the here we go for Xhaka, incredible signing imo. Exactly what we needed profile wise and a very good quality player. Not bothered about his age, he never moved quicker than a slow jog at his peak, he'll be fine for a good few years.

Somewhat hard to believe really.

 

Keith Downie on Twitter:

Granit Xhaka will undergo his Sunderland medical today, ahead of £17.3m move from Bayer Leverkusen.
️The 32-year-old jetted in last night, as our exclusive video shows.
#SAFC owner Kyril Louis Dreyfus collected his compatriot Xhaka on his luxury plane and brought him to the North East.
Dreyfus told by Leverkusen they wanted another £8m for the deal to happen, so he wrote the cheque.
3️⃣ 4️⃣ ✍

 

Wouldn’t like a clip off that big lad with the beard

 

Great signings so far. Goalkeeoer, center half and I'll be happy

 

Nicked from @Teessidemackem on the other thread

please log in to view this image

 

https://x.com/PaulMerse/status/1950201592579334201

 

What a player he was himself by the way. Not much of a pundit, but some footballer. Talent.

 

Keith Downie on Twitter

Sunderland have agreed a fee with NEC Nijmegen to sign Robin Roefs.
The Dutch goalkeeper will fly to the North East today to undergo a medical and sign long-term contract.
#SAFC Will pay NEC £9m + £2.5m in add-ons for the 22-year-old.
️After @David_Ornstein



Link to Athletic article about Roefs:

 

Sunderland AFC is delighted to announce the signing of Granit Xhaka, subject to international clearance.

The midfielder arrives from Bayer 04 Leverkusen for an undisclosed fee and signs a three-year contract at the Stadium of Light.

Ever-present at the pinnacle of the game throughout the last decade, Xhaka represented Arsenal 225 times in the Premier League and won the Emirates FA Cup twice, whilst also captaining the Gunners.

A remarkable period followed his arrival at the BayArena in 2023, as Leverkusen’s record-shattering invincible season saw Xabi Alonso’s side win their first-ever Bundesliga title and second DFB-Pokal.

Ranked 16th in the 2024 Ballon d’Or voting, Xhaka has captained Switzerland since 2020 and is the nation’s record appearance holder with 137 caps.

Upon arrival, Xhaka said: “I’m very proud to be here. When I spoke to the Club, I was excited and I felt the energy, and the mentality that all the people and players have. It’s exactly what I wanted, and I have a very good feeling. We are back to where this Club needs to be, and we want to stay here to write our own history. I feel that I’m ready to help the team with my experience but with quality as well. We need to find ourselves on the pitch, but I don’t think this will be a big problem. It’s been a long time to wait, but I’m here now and I’m looking forward to it.”

Kristjaan Speakman added: “We’re delighted to welcome Granit and his family to Sunderland. His arrival is a significant endorsement of our ambition and our desire to build a team our supporters can be proud of in the Premier League. His accomplishments and quality need little introduction – he’s a player of the highest calibre on and off the field, who we feel is the perfect match to the profile required in our team. We look forward to helping him settle on Wearside and are excited to see the impact he can make on the field and within our dressing room.”

Xhaka started his career with FC Concordia Basel before joining FC Basel in 2002, aged 10.

After rising through the ranks, including being a member of the Under-15 team that won the Swiss championship with a 100%-win record, he progressed into the senior team under Thorsten Fink ahead of the 2020-11 season.

He made his debut in a UEFA Champions League tie against Debreceni VSC and scored within four minutes, with his first league appearance following soon after.

After winning back-to-back Swiss titles, Xhaka joined Borussia Mönchengladbach in May 2012, and he was named in the Bundesliga Team of the Season for the 2014-15 campaign.

A seven-year association with Arsenal started in May 2016 and included two Emirates FA Cup successes, two FA Community Shield wins, and 297 appearances.

Xhaka scored 23 goals and contributed 29 assists in North London, cementing his place as a fan favourite at the Emirates Stadium before exiting to join Leverkusen in July 2023.


Further success followed at the BayArena, as Leverkusen won an historic first Bundesliga title and the DFB-Pokal during an invincible domestic season that also saw them reach the UEFA Europa League final.
Xhaka was named Swiss Footballer of the Year in 2017, 2022, and 2023, and has been an integral member of the national team since 2011, featuring at the 2014, 2018, and 2022 FIFA World Cups.

The 32-year-old midfielder will wear the number 34 shirt, with the Club’s 2025-26 home and away shirts now on sale.

https://www.safc.com/news/2025/july/30/safc-sign-granit-xhaka--/

 

WOW

 

Finally a top class defensive midfielder. The spine of the team is getting there. A quality GK, defender, and a top class striker is priority now for me. For all I like patto, we need a strong competitive squad that will push others to work harder. Basically, two quality players for every position, whilst still keeping, hopefully, our core young talent.