Chelsea's attempts to reunite Granit Xhaka with Xabi Alonso have hit an immediate wall: Sunderland have rejected an £8m bid and told the Blues their captain is not for sale at any price.
The Switzerland international, 33, joined the Black Cats last summer for £17.5m after leaving Bayer Leverkusen and played a pivotal role in their unexpected seventh‑place finish, captaining Regis Le Bris' side to Europa League qualification on the final day of last season — at Chelsea's expense. Xhaka, who is under contract until 2028, missed just four league games and won widespread praise for his leadership, particularly in helping build a strong dressing‑room culture.
“Sunderland reject Chelsea's £8m bid for Granit Xhaka and insist the midfielder is not for sale.”
Chelsea's incoming manager, Xabi Alonso, who won the Bundesliga with Xhaka at Leverkusen in 2024, is keen to add the midfielder's experience to a squad that has fielded the youngest team in the Premier League for the past two seasons. The club's leadership, including co‑controlling owner Behdad Eghbali, acknowledge changes are needed, and a move for a midfielder has long been planned, amid growing expectations that Enzo Fernández could join Real Madrid. However, Chelsea have not received a formal approach for Fernández and value him at around £120m, while sources in Spain suggest Real Madrid president Florentino Pérez and new manager José Mourinho support a move.
Sunderland, who have no financial pressure to sell, have made their stance clear. The £8m offer was described as 'unacceptable', and the club have informed Chelsea that Xhaka will not leave. The midfielder, currently at the World Cup with Switzerland, who finished top of Group B and face Algeria in the Round of 32, said last month: "For me, the most important thing is that my family is happy. And we are in Sunderland. I'm not even thinking about a transfer."
Xhaka's reported desire to return to London and reunite with Alonso marks a shift from those comments, but Sunderland remain unmoved. Chelsea, meanwhile, are also closing in on Atalanta right‑back Marco Palestra and face an uncertain future for several players, including Alejandro Garnacho, Liam Delap, Malo Gusto, Trevoh Chalobah, Wesley Fofana and Tosin Adarabioyo. Defender Marc Cucurella has already joined Real Madrid, while Como are interested in Chalobah.