Sunderland Captain Granit Xhaka Nominated For Prestigious Premier League Prize

Granit Xhaka and Sunderland has proved to be a footballing marriage made in heaven this season. 

The former Arsenal stalwart arrived at newly-promoted Sunderland last summer in a £17m deal from German giants Bayer Leverkusen, where he won the Bundesliga and German cup double in his debut season in 2023/4, and was quickly adorned with the prestigious captain’s armband on Wearside. 

In his return to English football, veteran midfielder Xhaka has been an absolute revelation in the red-and-white stripes, captaining Sunderland to a Europa League finish.

As a result, Xhaka was crowned Sunderland’s Player of the Season for his monumental contribution to Regis Le Bris’ side, but that may not be the only trophy the Swiss captain collects from this campaign. 

Eyebrows were raised across the wider footballing world when the 144-time capped Swiss star joined the Black Cats in the wake of their return to the top flight. 

However, Xhaka’s signing has proven to be an inspired piece of business from the Sunderland hierarchy, with the experienced midfielder being the central cog and conductor for Le Bris’ side. 

In 34 Premier League outings, Xhaka has notched seven goal contributions (one goal and six assists), but his impact runs deeper than numbers. 

The 33-year-old has not only operated almost as an on-field coach in tandem with Le Bris on the sideline, but he has lifted the Sunderland standard to an unprecedented degree, and it is fair to say that without Xhaka, the Black Cats would not have enjoyed such an impressive season.

As a result, Xhaka has been nominated for the Premier League’s transfer of the season for his transformational effect at the Stadium of Light. 

When announcing the nomination, the Premier League’s website read: “Arguably one of Sunderland's best signings of the summer, Xhaka - an instrumental figure in Bayer Leverkusen's Bundesliga title and German Cup Double in 2023/24 - became an instant hit at the Stadium of Light.

Xhaka was nominated alongside Leeds United’s Dominic Calvert-Lewin, Manchester City duo Rayan Cherki and Marc Guehi, Viktor Gyokeres of title winners Arsenal, Chelsea’s Joao Pedro, Manchester United goalkeeper Senne Lammens and Bournemouth full-back Adrien Truffert. 

Given that the Gunners clinched their first Premier League title win in 22 years, Gyokeres may well be the frontrunner for the award after firing 14 goals in 36 outings in his debut campaign at the Emirates after arriving from Sporting in the summer to spearhead Arsenal’s attack. 

However, Xhaka’s impact at Sunderland simply cannot be understated. He was the nucleus, the connective tissue and chief conductor for one of the stories of the season, capped off with a rousing speech on the Stadium of Light field at full-time on Sunday. 

Given that the stalwart Swiss central midfield has captained a newly-promoted side, who many backed for an instant relegation back to the second tier, to a stunning seventh place finish and qualification for the Europa League, surely the Black Cats hero will be in close contention for signing of the season.