James Copley: Granit Xhaka deal could trigger transfer domino effect at Sunderland – why fans are dreaming
Why Sunderland fans are dreaming big as Granit Xhaka edges closer to sensational Stadium of Light move
As
Sunderland edge closer to the unthinkable – the signing of
Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen – the excitement around Wearside is more than just about landing a top player. It’s about what it represents.
This isn’t just a signing. It’s a signal. A symbol of intent. A moment that many fans thought might never come. For so long, Sunderland have operated under constraints. Smart, sustainable, ambitious – but measured. The arrival of Xhaka would be a break from the past, and a leap towards something bigger.
A
Champions League midfielder, an invincibles title-winner in Germany, a man with over 220
Premier League appearances, 137 international caps, and a story in the beautiful game that commands
respect across the footballing world. This deal feels different because it is different.
Though we must note that the deal is not yet done and there appears
to be some work to do in terms of a club-to-club agreement before we can all get excited about tracking aeroplane voyages, scarf pictures and people being spotted in and around the Jacky White’s Market area.
Why Granit Xhaka would change the landscape for Sunderland
Xhaka is more than just a name. He’s a leader, a mentor, a benchmark. The idea of him in red and white doesn’t just excite supporters because of his pedigree, but because of the knock-on effect his presence could have on the Black Cats’ young team at the Academy of Light and, potentially, their future transfer policy.
Suddenly, the two centre-backs Sunderland are targeting this summer – both high-level players in their own right – might see a move to Wearside as a safer bet. A more serious project. When you can attract a player of Xhaka's profile, it changes how other players view you. The Premier League challenge becomes credible. It signals the Black Cats are coming to thrive, not just survive.
For the likes of Chris Rigg and even Sunderland’s most recent young signings still adjusting to English football, Xhaka could be transformative. Here is a player who was booed off the pitch by his own supporters at Arsenal, stripped of the captaincy – only to come back stronger, win back the dressing room, and become a club figurehead again. That story alone is worth its weight in gold inside a young dressing room. He is a driver of standards
A dream Sunderland fans never expected to realise
Let’s be honest. Sunderland fans wanted this kind of move. But how many truly believed something of this magnitude and ambition would be on the cards this summer? To go from League One to potentially signing a current international starter and Champions League player in just over three years feels staggering. In July 2021, Sunderland signed George Dobson...now, it is a very different story.
This is a club that has fought its way back from the brink. A club that saw rock bottom come under Phil Parkinson as the Wearsiders slipped to 15th in the third tier at one point. A club that rebuilt with a plan, with youth, and with patience. To now be in the conversation to sign a player who last season was instrumental in Leverkusen’s unbeaten Bundesliga campaign? It conjures dreams of a better future in the Premier League.
What is football without fantasy driven by transfers?
Could Xhaka become this generation’s Stefan Schwarz – a talismanic and quality midfield figure as Sunderland climb the Premier League ladder once again? It’s a lofty comparison in terms of Sunderland’s likely league position this season, yes, but that’s exactly what a transfer of this scale invites. And really, what’s football without a little fantasy?
We dreamed of these moments. Of Sunderland being able to sign someone of this calibre. Someone who still has plenty left in the tank, but who has already done it all. Someone who can guide the club through what will be a brutal but exhilarating Premier League season. Whatever the cost – transfer fee or wages – Xhaka will be worth it. Because this deal is about more than stats. It’s about status. And Sunderland, with this signing, might just be announcing that they’re back and wish to remain so.
James Copley: Granit Xhaka deal could trigger transfer domino effect at Sunderland – why fans are dreaming