Granit Xhaka leaves Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen

Arsenal's Granit Xhaka joins Bundesliga side Bayer Leverkusen

Swiss midfielder ends five-and-a-half-year spell with Gunners

Granit Xhaka has left Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen, the Bundesliga club announced on Tuesday.

The Switzerland international brings to an end a five-and-a-half-year spell with the Gunners, having joined from Borussia Monchengladbach in 2016.

Xhaka made 243 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 14 goals. He was a key player in the team's FA Cup triumph in 2017 and 2020.

However, Xhaka's time at Arsenal was also marked by controversy. He was stripped of the captaincy in 2019 after reacting angrily to being booed by fans.

Xhaka has now returned to the Bundesliga, where he made his name with Monchengladbach. Bayer Leverkusen are currently fourth in the table and will be hoping that Xhaka can help them challenge for a Champions League place.

The transfer fee is believed to be in the region of £15 million.