Granit Xhaka

Granit Xhaka's football career has been one of the most compelling redemption arcs in modern European football. From being stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in a bitter public falling-out in 2019 to becoming one of the most decorated and respected midfielders in the Bundesliga — his journey is a masterclass in resilience and reinvention.

The Swiss midfielder left Arsenal for Bayer Leverkusen in the summer of 2023 after a decade in the Premier League. What happened next was history. Under Xabi Alonso, Leverkusen completed an unbeaten Bundesliga season in 2023-24 — the first time in the competition's history a team had gone the entire season without losing a league game. Xhaka was the heartbeat of that extraordinary achievement, captaining the side and driving the club's style with his composure, leadership, and range of passing.

Born in Basel, Switzerland to Albanian-Kosovar parents, Xhaka has played over 100 times for the Swiss national team and remains their captain and spiritual leader. His reputation has been fully restored and his legacy is now written in Bundesliga history. A move to Leverkusen proved to be the best decision of his career.