Sunderland blocks Chelsea's £8m bid for captain Granit Xhaka

Sunderland manager Régis Le Bris confirmed that the club has rejected an £8 million offer from Chelsea for midfielder Granit Xhaka. Le Bris said the pursuit is "closed" and that Xhaka wants to stay at the Black Cats, describing him as a good captain and great leader.

Xhaka, 33, played a key role in Sunderland’s qualification for the Europa League last season after the club’s return to the Premier League. Chelsea manager Xabi Alonso had shown interest in reuniting with his former Bayer Leverkusen teammate. Sunderland’s summer activity has been limited, with only the free‑transfer signing of Belgian defender Thomas Meunier from Lille so far, and the club expects a quiet window compared with the previous season’s busy rebuild.

Le Bris emphasized that the club will continue to work behind the scenes and that any further activity will be markedly quieter than the 14‑player overhaul that preceded their recent promotion.