Bayer Leverkusen Sign Arsenal's Granit Xhaka

 

Granit Xhaka has left Arsenal to join their German counterparts, Bayer Leverkusen in a five-year contract worth £21.4m (€25m). 

As Arsenal will be playing in the Champions League next season, Mikel Arteta has been making some scouting to shore up his team. The club's first signing in this window is Kai Havertz for £65m from Chelsea and they are also near competing a deal for West Ham's Declan Rice. 

Whilst Rice is deemed the replacement for Xhaka, the club have also agreed a £34.3m deal with Ajax for Jurrein Timber. The deal for the defender reportedly comes with add-ons worth over £4m. 

Bayer signing of Xhaka will see the player return to the Bundesliga, where he was signed from Borrusia Monchengladbach for £35m in 2016. Unfortunately, he will be leaving after he had helped the side returned to the Champions League for the first time since 2016/17. 

Arsenal were nearly clinching the Premier League title last season before sliding into second place behind Manchester City. Nevertheless, Xhaka's spell was not without trophies as he won two FA Cup and two Community Shields with the club.