That is Xhaka’s second spell in England, having performed 297 occasions for Arsenal from 2016 till 2023.

He then joined Bayer Leverkusen the place he gained the title beneath Xabi Alonso of their unbeaten home season in 2023-24.

Erik ten Hag, then the Leverkusen boss, insisted Xhaka wouldn’t be bought this summer time.

However the midfielder left for Sunderland, and Ten Hag was sacked a couple of weeks into the season.

“I did not anticipate to return again after Germany however you by no means know the place you land,” stated Xhaka.

“To be again made me completely satisfied. I knew the undertaking to carry expertise and present the blokes daily.

“It makes me completely satisfied to attain a aim.”

Xhaka was a little bit of a pantomine villain – and typically a lot maligned – at Arsenal.

He was despatched off 5 occasions for the Gunners and spent six weeks as captain in 2019, clashed together with his personal followers and was stripped of the armband.

However issues went higher beneath Mikel Arteta and he grew to become an vital participant earlier than leaving in 2023 for Germany.

Carragher stated: “After what he went via at Arsenal, he confirmed nice character to return again from that. The impression he has had, if he could be a part of a Sunderland group who finishes within the prime 10 – and even simply stays up – he might be remembered for a really very long time.”

Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini instructed BBC Radio Newcastle: “He exemplifies a prime skilled.

“When he was an Arsenal participant at occasions you felt like he was a little bit of a villain. Through the years we’ve seen him mature and develop.

“We have seen a barely extra restrained model of Xhaka, nevertheless it’s really higher than the totally dedicated, blowing steam out of his ears type of participant that we noticed at Arsenal.

“He is a bit of bit extra measured, calmer and a greater skilled. To have that in your squad particularly once you’ve bought a younger squad, and everybody believes in him, he is a talisman.

“We have to wrap him in cotton wool and maintain him going for 38 video games.”