"The Sunderland captain has arguably been the signing of the season so far due to the impact he has made for the newly promoted side after arriving for an initial £13 million from Bayer Leverkusen. Xhaka, 33, offers proven, top-level experience and the quality that saw him win the 2023-24 Bundesliga with Leverkusen after seven years with Arsenal. Sunderland remain a young, emerging side under coach Regis Le Bris, but Xhaka has helped knit everything together and the Switzerland midfielder has been a crucial addition."
"When Arsenal signed Madueke in a £48.5 million deal with Chelsea, it triggered an angry reaction from Gunners fans and led to a #NoToMadueke petition online being signed by more than 4,000 people. Despite Madueke being a senior England international who had won major trophies with Chelsea, the Arsenal fan base was split by his arrival."
"The 23-year-old has since silenced those critics with a series of impressive performances and goals for the club, including a stunning long-range strike in the UEFA Champions League win against Club Brugge. Madueke has shown himself to be an able deputy for Bukayo Saka and has proved his worth"
The 2025-26 Premier League season has produced surprises, with Aston Villa and newly promoted Sunderland exceeding expectations while West Ham United and Wolverhampton Wanderers face relegation trouble. Several summer signings have made decisive impacts. Sunderland signed Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for an initial £13 million; the 33-year-old brings top-level experience, midfield stability and leadership under coach Regis Le Bris. Arsenal paid £48.5 million for Noni Madueke from Chelsea amid fan backlash; the 23-year-old has responded with impressive goals, a standout long-range strike in the Champions League and reliable cover for Bukayo Saka.
Read at ESPN.com
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