Arsenal star Granit Xhaka is to leave Arsenal, allowing the Gunners to perform unexpected moves in the market
(Image credit: Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)
Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka is set to leave after seven years in north London, opening the door for a surprise or two in the transfer market.
The Swiss national captain arrived at the Emirates Stadium in 2016 and has gone on a rollercoaster journey with the Gunners. He almost quit the club in 2019 following a fallout with fans but remained to become a linchpin under Mikel Arteta, winning two FA Cup titles and helping the side qualify for the Champions League this season as a key man in the side.
But Xhaka's exit is imminent, with Italian transfer guru Fabrizio Romano confirming that Bayer Leverkusen are now in advanced talks to bring the 30-year-old back to the Bundesliga, where he spent four years with Borussia Monchengladbach.
Granit Xhaka has endured mixed times at Arsenal – but leaves a fan favourite (Image credit: PA Images)
"No negotiations over new deal and [Arsenal] plan to part ways in June," Romano tweeted, adding, "Understand personal terms are almost agreed over four-year deal".
The move actually opens up transfer plans for the Gunners to strengthen even further than perhaps first expected, though.
It was thought by many that Declan Rice was the priority signing for Arsenal this summer as a defensive midfielder, with Brighton star Moises Caicedo as a backup option. In reality, Xhaka leaving opens the door for both to potentially move to north London with one used as a No.8 replacing Xhaka, while the unsettled Mason Mount of Chelsea has been linked, too.
Beyond Xhaka and Martin Odegaard as No.8s in Mikel Arteta's 4-3-3, Arsenal have the likes of Fabio Vieira and Emile Smith Rowe as potential options ahead of Thomas Partey or Jorginho as a deepest-lying midfielder. Xhaka's departure, however, heavily suggests that two new players will arrive in the centre of the park.
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Declan Rice of West Ham United may well be Xhaka's replacement (Image credit: Paul Ellis/AFP via Getty Images)
Mark White has been at on FourFourTwo since joining in January 2020, first as a staff writer before becoming content editor in 2023. An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also represented FFT at both FA Cup and League Cup finals (though didn't receive a winners' medal on either occasion) and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. He has written cover features for the mag on Mikel Arteta and Martin Odegaard, and is assisted by his cat, Rosie, who has interned for the brand since lockdown.
