Régis Le Bris: Chelsea pursuit of Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka 'closed'

Régis Le Bris has said Chelsea’s pursuit of Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka is "closed" and dismissed the possibility of a sale this summer. He also stated, "Granit wants to stay in Sunderland."

Le Bris made his comments amid interest from Chelsea, who submitted an £8m offer for the 33-year-old earlier this month. Xhaka was a central figure as Sunderland secured qualification for the Europa League following their return to the Premier League last season. The move would have reunited the midfielder with Xabi Alonso, who managed him during his time at Bayer Leverkusen and is now the new Chelsea manager.

The Sunderland head coach was unequivocal about the club’s stance on the situation, describing the pursuit as finished and asserting that the captain would not be leaving in the current window. He framed Xhaka’s intentions clearly when he said, "Granit wants to stay in Sunderland." Those remarks are likely to end any immediate transfer speculation surrounding the player.

Xhaka’s influence at Sunderland grew during a campaign that culminated in European qualification following their promotion back to the top flight. His leadership and performances were highlighted as key components in the club’s success, and those contributions have attracted attention from clubs looking to strengthen their midfield.

Chelsea’s reported £8m bid arrived against that backdrop, with Xabi Alonso seen as keen to bring his former Leverkusen midfielder to Stamford Bridge. Alonso’s appointment as Chelsea manager added another layer to the narrative, given his previous working relationship with Xhaka at Bayer Leverkusen.

By declaring the pursuit closed and emphasizing Xhaka’s desire to remain, Le Bris signalled Sunderland’s intention to retain their captain through the summer. The club’s public position appears to leave little room for a transfer while the window remains open.