Granit Xhaka’s transfer to Bayer Leverkusen near completion

Granit Xhaka’s long-awaited move to Bayer Leverkusen is finally on the verge of completion, with Arsenal set to receive £21.5 million for the Switzerland international.

Xhaka was expected to complete his switch to the Bundesliga outfit soon after the end of last season, but the deal was put on hold by Arsenal as they attempted to negotiate a better fee.

And after weeks of talks, the Gunners have now agreed to a price of £21.5m, well above the 13m deal that Leverkusen had hoped to secure in May.

Xhaka, who will turn 31 in September, is now expected to finalise his move to Germany before the end of the week, bringing to an end his seven-year stay in North London.

The midfielder said his goodbyes to teammates and staff after the final game of the 2022/23 campaign.

Xhaka is the first of several high-profile names who could leave Arsenal during the summer, with the club also open to letting the likes of Kieran Tierney, Folarin Balogun, Nuno Tavares and Sambi Lokonga all go, should suitable offers arrive.