Sunderland Midfielder Wants To Join Chelsea This Summer: Big Blow For Le Bris?

A report from Fabrizio Romano says Sunderland midfielder Granit Xhaka wants to join Chelsea this summer, which would be a major development for the Black Cats in the current transfer window. The article states the Blues are hoping to sign the Swiss international from Sunderland, where he played as a central midfielder and was among the club’s most experienced options. It notes that Xhaka is 33 and put together a productive 2025-26 campaign at Wearside, scoring one goal and providing six assists in 36 matches across all competitions. His contract at the Stadium of Light runs out in the summer of 2028, reducing the immediate pressure to sell unless a “fair” offer is received. The piece describes Xhaka as a defensive-minded midfielder who can also operate box-to-box, potentially influencing match tempo for Chelsea.