Granit Xhaka

Basic info

• Full name: Granit Xhaka
• Born: 27 September 1992
• Place of birth: Basel, Switzerland
• Nationality: Swiss
• Height: ~1.85 m
• Position: Central midfielder (left-footed)
• Current club: Bayer Leverkusen (joined 2023)

Club career (summary)

• Youth: Concordia Basel, FC Basel academy
• FC Basel (senior breakthrough) — promoted to first team and won Swiss Super League titles with Basel early in his career
• Borussia Mönchengladbach (2012–2016) — established himself in the Bundesliga
• Arsenal (2016–2023) — key central midfielder for Arsenal; won FA Cup trophies with the club and served briefly as club captain in 2019
• Bayer Leverkusen (2023–present) — transferred from Arsenal in 2023

International career

• Switzerland senior international since 2011
• Well over 100 caps for Switzerland (long-term regular and leader)
• Represented Switzerland at multiple major tournaments including the FIFA World Cup (2014, 2018, 2022) and UEFA European Championship (EURO 2016, EURO 2020)
• Has captained the national team on numerous occasions

Playing style & strengths

• Deep-lying/box-to-box central midfielder with strong passing range and game reading
• Left-footed, good at long-range shooting and set-pieces
• Physical, combative presence and vocal leadership on the pitch

Notable moments

• High-profile transfer to Arsenal in 2016 where he became a regular starter
• Was appointed Arsenal captain in 2019 but had the armband removed later that year following a public confrontation with fans
• Joined Bayer Leverkusen in 2023 to continue his club career in the Bundesliga

Honours (selected)

• Swiss Super League titles with FC Basel (early career)
• FA Cup winner with Arsenal (during his time at the club)

This summary provides an overview of Granit Xhaka’s career, playing profile and main achievements up to his move to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023.