Granit Xhaka is being lined up for a surprise return to the Premier League, with Aston Villa understood to be in advanced talks over a deal that could bring the Swiss captain back to English football as early as this summer. The 31-year-old has been one of the most influential midfielders in the Bundesliga since leaving Arsenal in 2023, winning the German league title with Bayer Leverkusen in Xabi Alonso’s historic unbeaten season — and Villa believe he has exactly the leadership and technical quality their engine room is missing.
Why Villa Want Xhaka
Unai Emery’s transformation of Aston Villa has been one of the genuine success stories of English football over the past two seasons. Back-to-back Champions League campaigns have changed the profile of player the club can attract, and Xhaka fits the blueprint perfectly. At Leverkusen he has redefined his own image — once derided for rash decisions, he emerged under Alonso as an astute, controlling presence who reads the game with a composure that belied his earlier Premier League reputation. Villa’s midfield lost some of its energy in the second half of last season, and Emery sees Xhaka as the kind of experienced operator who can keep things ticking against the best clubs in Europe, not just on home soil.
The Leverkusen Complication
The negotiation is not entirely straightforward. Xhaka has a year remaining on his contract at the BayArena and Leverkusen are not desperate to sell — but they are realistic. The German club know that at 31, this summer is likely the last window in which they can command a meaningful fee for him. Reports from Germany suggest Leverkusen are asking in the region of £15 to £18 million, a number that Villa view as manageable. Xhaka himself is believed to be open to the move, with the pull of the Premier League and regular Champions League football proving a persuasive combination. He spent eight years at Arsenal and, despite his occasional friction with sections of the fanbase, retains a genuine affection for English football.
What a Return Would Mean
Should the deal go through, Xhaka would arrive as one of the most decorated active midfielders in Villa’s recent history. He brings a Bundesliga title, a German Cup, and 125 international caps for Switzerland — a record that gives him the authority to command a dressing room. Emery would likely pair him with another central midfielder in a double pivot, freeing more attacking options while Xhaka screens the backline and recycles possession. For Villa, this is a statement of ambition: a club that once scrapped for mid-table survival now in a position to bring a European title winner through the door.
Transfer context: Granit Xhaka, 31, Switzerland captain. Currently at Bayer Leverkusen. Bundesliga title winner 2023-24. 125+ Switzerland caps. Reported fee: £15-18m. Aston Villa in advanced talks as Unai Emery builds for Champions League 2026-27.
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