“Bayer 04 is a club with an impressive history and ambitious targets," said Xhaka at his signing. The Swiss midfielder played for Arsenal for seven years before moving on to Bayer Leverkusen. This is the fourth club for the 6' 1" central midfielder in his professional career.
Xhaka joined the youth section at FC Basel at the age of eleven and he moved up to the first team squad in the 2010/2011 season. He twice won the league title with the top Swiss club and also made his debut in the Champions League and the Europa League.
He moved to the Bundesliga at the age of 20 with his first experience in a top European league at Borussia Mönchengladbach. He made 140 appearances for the Foals. Four years later, Xhaka followed the call of the Premier League but he never lost contact with German football: "I know the Bundesliga inside out and I always watched it from London."
plenty of expereince en route to Leverkusen
Xhaka made 297 appearances for Arsenal across all competitions. The Swiss player soon established himself as a first choice with the Gunners, as he had done in Mönchengladbach, and he quickly became a key player in central midfield.
Even after seven years in London, Xhaka was still one of the key players in an otherwise young North London side. With 16 goal involvements in the last Premier League season – the best season of his career in that respect – the otherwise more defensively minded 30-year-old made an important contribution to Arsenal finishing runners-up and thereby qualifying for the Champions League again after seven years. The midfield maestro arrives in Leverkusen with plenty of experience.
Over the course of his career, the Swiss midfielder has again and again proved one thing: What it means to accept responsibility. His experience as a leader on the pitch paid off with him being the captain at Borussia Mönchengladbach and Arsenal for three years at each club. Granit has also been captain of the Switzerland team since 2018 and he has the second highest number of international caps for his country with 115 to date.
And Simon Rolfes, Bayer 04 sporting managing director, is aware of Xhaka's qualities: “"His ability on the pitch is well known. But, above all, there are few players who are able to so convincingly lead a team like he does thanks to his outstanding mentality and personality.”
Xhaka is looking forward to the new chapter under the Bayer Cross: "I see Bayer 04 now as a club with a great future. Discussions with the management have been incredibly motivating. Everybody here is ambitious and wants to achieve something.” Exactly as the Swiss infielder does.
Alejo Sarco has left Bayer 04 Leverkusen to join Sporting Gijón in Spain’s second division. Bayer 04 have secured a buy-back clause for the 20-year-old Argentine striker, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Borussia Mönchengladbach.
Show more
Bayer 04 Leverkusen have signed 16-year-old midfield prospect Gabriel Minutillo on a long-term contract. The Germany youth international will play for the U19s this season.
Show more
Bayer 04 preparations for the 2026/27 season are in full swing, with the first friendly now under their belts. Although there are still around seven weeks to go until the first Bundesliga home game in early September, there is already huge anticipation for the start of competitive action for head coach Carles Martínez’s team at the BayArena. For the Bundesliga home matches of the new season, here is the latest information regarding the first phase of single-match ticket sales. The tried-and-tested early-bird phase remains in place. From 23 to 31 July, tickets for matches will go on sale on weekdays; the early-bird phase ends on 5 August at the latest – provided tickets are still available by then.
Show more
Bayer 04 will have to manage without forward Eliesse Ben Seghir for the time being.
Show more
