Chelsea Eye Xhaka Reunion with Alonso in €30M Bid

Chelsea has reportedly initiated a surprise approach to sign midfielder Granit Xhaka from Sunderland, with a bid rumored to be around €30 million. This potential transfer could lead to a reunion with manager Xabi Alonso, who previously coached Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen. Alonso is keen to bolster his midfield with experienced ball-playing players, a role Xhaka is well-suited for, having been a key figure in Leverkusen's unbeaten Bundesliga title win in the 2023/24 season.

Xhaka joined Sunderland for €15 million after Alonso's departure from Leverkusen in July 2025 and quickly became a fan favorite, helping them secure a Europa League qualification spot. However, his future at the Stadium of Light appears uncertain as Chelsea, who finished 10th last season, seek to add him to their squad. Chelsea is also expected to sign Marco Palestra and is in talks for Maxence Lacroix, but Xhaka is seen as a crucial midfield general, especially with Enzo Fernandez's potential exit to Real Madrid.

If Chelsea's €30 million bid is accurate, Xhaka would become one of the most expensive players over 32 ever transferred permanently, potentially second only to Cristiano Ronaldo's €117 million move to Juventus. Given Xhaka's current market value is €8 million, Chelsea may need to significantly overpay to secure their target, a tactic Todd Boehly has employed for previous signings like Fernandez and Caicedo.