Le Bris says Xhaka is staying as Sunderland shut down Chelsea link

Regis Le Bris has made Sunderland’s position clear: Granit Xhaka is expected to stay this summer, and the Chelsea-linked transfer story is being treated as finished by the club. The Sunderland captain remains central to the team’s plans after an impressive season.

Xhaka joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen last summer in a reported £17.2 million move and became one of the club’s key figures as they qualified for the Europa League. ESPN had previously reported that Chelsea were exploring a possible deal for the 33-year-old, with Xhaka’s past work under Xabi Alonso at Leverkusen adding context to the link.

Sunderland’s stance matters because Xhaka is not just another squad member: he is their captain and a major part of the identity Le Bris is building after the club’s return to the Premier League. A seventh-place finish raised expectations, but it also increased the pressure to keep the core of the squad intact.

Le Bris also suggested Sunderland’s summer business may be more restrained than last year, when the club made a much larger number of signings. For editors and supporters, the key question now is whether stability around Xhaka gives Sunderland a stronger platform for their Premier League and European campaigns.