New addition via change motif
Bayer Leverkusen’s new signing Granit Xhaka sees his original plan as a distant prospect as the end of his career approaches. The 31-year-old is no longer planning to join his training club FC Basel again. “It was always a dream of my brother Taulant and I to play together on a team again. As of today, I would say that I will not be coming back to FC Basel,” said Xhaka in an interview with “New Zurich newspaper“.
The defensive midfielder moved to the “Werkself” for 15 million euros in the summer after seven years at Arsenal FC and immediately took on the important role that was intended for him. So far, Xhaka has always been part of the starting eleven and has impressed almost every time. His contract with Bayer runs until June 2028 – when it expires he would be 35 years old.
His brother Taulant (32) played for FC Basel throughout, apart from a loan spell at Grasshopper Club Zurich, and made 369 appearances for the 20-time Swiss champions. Granit left the club in 2012 and went to Borussia Mönchengladbach for 8.5 million euros, where he became the focus of top international clubs.
About his transfer to Leverkusen back to the Bundesliga, the left-footer said: “It was sometimes written that I was coming back to Germany because of my wife. That’s not the truth. Like me, she was very happy in London.” The veteran made the decision solely as a footballer and athlete. “I came to a top club in Germany that has a plan and wants to achieve something. Of course the change was easier for us because, like me, we used to live in Düsseldorf and Mönchengladbach is nearby, where my wife grew up.”
Schick, Boniface & Co.: Most expensive signings from Bayer Leverkusen
Chicharito | 2015/16 by Manchester United
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Transfer fee: €12 million
As of: October 2023
Mitchell Weiser | 2018/19 by Hertha BSC
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Transfer fee: €12 million
Heung-min Son | 2013/14 from HSV
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Transfer fee: €12.5 million
Sven Bender | 2017/18 from BVB
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Transfer fee: €12.5 million
Charles Aranguiz | 2015/16 from SC Internacional
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Transfer fee: €13 million
Adam Hlozek | 2022/23 by Sparta Prague
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Transfer fee: €13 million
Andre Schürrle | 2011/12 from Mainz 05
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Transfer fee: €14 million
Moussa Diaby | 2019/20 by PSG
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Transfer fee: €15 million
Granit Xhaka | 2023/24 from Arsenal FC
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Transfer fee: €15 million
Hakan Calhanoglu | 2014/15 from HSV
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Transfer fee: €15.25 million
Leon Bailey | 2016/17 from KRC Genk
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Transfer fee: €16.7 million
Exequiel Palacios | 2019/20 by River Plate
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Transfer fee: €17 million
Panagiotis Retsos | 2017/18 by Olympiacos
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Transfer fee: €17.5 million
Paulinho | 2018/19 by Vasco da Gama
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Transfer fee: €18.5 million
Lucas Alario | 2017/18 by River Plate
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Transfer fee: €19 million
Kevin Volland | 2016/17 from Hoffenheim
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Transfer fee: €20 million
Edmond Tapsoba | 2019/20 by Vitória Guimarães
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Transfer fee: €20.2 million
Victor Boniface | 2023/24 from Union SG
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Transfer fee: €20.5 million
Aleksandar Dragovic | 2016/17 from Dynamo Kyiv
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Transfer fee: €21 million
Odilon Kossounou | 2021/22 from FC Brugge
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Transfer fee: €23 million
Nathan Tella | 2023/24 from Southampton FC
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Transfer fee: €23.3 million
Patrik Schick | 2020/21 from AS Roma
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Transfer fee: €26.5 million
Kerem Demirbay | 2019/20 from Hoffenheim
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Transfer fee: €32 million
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