Wayne Rooney names Sunderland ace as one of the signings of the season alongside Hugo Ekitike
Granit Xhaka has proven revolutionary for Sunderland.
The midfielder joined the club from Bayer Leverkusen over the summer, following Sunderland’s promotion to the Premier League.
Taking on the armband at the Stadium of Light, Xhaka has adapted back to life in the Premier League seamlessly, with the ex-Arsenal midfielder carrying a talismanic presence.
Premier League legend Wayne Rooney has heaped praise on Xhaka as of late, mentioning the 33-year-old among the best signings of the summer.
Wayne Rooney piles praise on Granit Xhaka
Making the move back to England over the summer, Xhaka returned as a different player.
A crucial cog in Xabi Alonso’s electric Leverkusen outfit, the midfielder brought experience, supreme technical quality, and the leadership abilities to guide a newly promoted Sunderland side.
Speaking on The Wayne Rooney Show, the Manchester United legend earmarked Sunderland’s captain as one of the signings of the season alongside Liverpool forward Hugo Ekitike.
“(Hugo) Ekitike and (Granit) Xhaka at Sunderland have probably been the best two signings in the Premier League, I really enjoy watching Ekitike play,” said Rooney, who was incredibly keen to pile the praise on Xhaka.
“Xhaka has to be the signing of the season,” Rooney added. “He has always been a good player. I thought going into Sunderland, he could struggle and it wouldn’t be a good signing but he has been incredible. His ability to dictate the players and slow the play down. He has been brilliant.”
Xhaka has missed Sunderland’s last two Premier League matches due to injury, with manager Regis Le Bris confirming in a recent press conference that “it should take probably three more weeks” before he is back playing.
Read more: Regis Le Bris names attributes he told Habib Diarra this week after goal in Sunderland vs Burnley
Granit Xhaka is the heart of the Sunderland project
Securing Xhaka’s signature over the summer was the biggest statement that the club could make following promotion.
Arriving with recent title-winning experience, Xhaka instantly took the captain’s armband at Sunderland, and his arrival no doubt played a part in the signings of other individuals with experience at the highest level in Nordi Mukiele, Lutsharel Geertruida and Reinildo.
| Champions League | Europa League | Conference League | |
| Granit Xhaka | 32 | 63 | 0 |
| Nordi Mukiele | 35 | 7 | 0 |
| Lutsharel Geertruida | 14 | 18 | 12 |
With a fantastic mix of experience and youth, the Black Cats are well placed to push for a European place heading into the final months of the campaign after Sunderland made it 12 unbeaten Premier League matches at the Stadium of Light. After his return, there is no doubt that Xhaka will be the beating heart of this.
The Black Cats were not looking to mess around upon their Premier League return, and Xhaka’s signing has elevated them to a whole new level.