Granit Xhaka is without a doubt one of the most notable names in contemporary football- he is a fierce player, a natural leader and an individual who has redefined the midfield position with the burning energy, accuracy and sheer power. Xhaka had a long story of fighting and development, and it started long ago, back in Switzerland when he only learned to play sports and became a captain of his national team and one of the brightest representatives of European top leagues.
Early Life and Background
Granit Xhaka was born on 27th September 1992 in Basel, Switzerland; to an Albanian Kosovo family. His family background is characterized by resilience, his father was a political opponent who served time in one of the prisons in Yugoslavia. It is this great sense of identity and pride that has always influenced the character of Xhaka whether on or off the pitch.
He began his career in football playing with the FC Basel club where he rose quickly to fame due to his intelligence, passing range and aggressive approach.
Club Career
FC Basel (2010 - 2012)
Xhaka played professionally with FC Basel where he assisted them to go home with two titles of the Swiss Super League before he started getting attention of other teams abroad.
Borussia Monchengladbach (2012 - 2016)
He played as a full-fledged midfielder under Lucien Favre in Germany. His leadership potential was revealed and he was appointed captain when he was only 22 years.
Arsenal FC (2016 - 2023)
Xhaka transferred to Arsenal at about 30 million. His time was a roller coaster ride of performances and he once got into trouble after colliding with fans but managed to redeem himself and served very well under the current manager, Mikel Arteta, bringing Arsenal back to the Champions League and back to becoming a fan-favorite.
Bayer Leverkusen (2023 - 2025)
At the end of the seven seasons in North London, Xhaka was signed by Bayer Leverkusen, with whom he guided the club to its maiden Bundesliga title in 2024.Sunderland AFC (2025 )
Xhaka joined Sunderland in an unexpected but daring transfer in July 2025, transferring experience and star-value to the English club at a cost of oneself being bought, 20 Million Euros. He is a player who signed up to June 2027.International Career
Xhaka has amassed more than 120 caps with the Switzerland national team and made his debut in the year 2011. He has made several tournaments in the world Cups and European Championships where he played as the central figure and most of the time he played as the captain.Career Stats
- Club Appearances: 560
- Club Goals: 40
- International Caps: 120
- International Goals: 15
- Major Trophies: Bundesliga title (2024), FA Cup (2017, 2020), Swiss Super League (2011, 2012)
Salary and Net worth
It is estimated that Granit Xhaka is worth approximately 25 million dollars. His profits in the course of the years have been made through club contracts, endorsements (especially with Puma) and performance bonuses. He is also earning 100,000 a week at Sunderland and his worth at 32 is no doubt as well.
Personal life
Leonita Lekaj is Albanian-Swiss, and she is married to Xhaka. The two got married in 2017 and have two daughters together. Leonita can be frequently seen at the games and on social media, and the family is characterised by unity and privacy.
Taulant Xhaka, the brother of Granit also happens to be a professional football player and a representative of Albania on the international front.
Lifestyle and Personality
Xhaka off the pitch is a cool, calm, and family man. He speaks a number of languages such as German, English and Albanian. His life is simple and luxurious at the same time as he likes traveling and good food and spending time with his relatives.He has a robust personality, leadership and does not fail to show his loyalties towards his teams. Nonetheless, Xhaka has become a senior figure and guide in world football, despite the controversies that flared up at the same stage of his career.
