In a move that has raised eyebrows, Jamie Carragher has hailed Granit Xhaka, the captain of Sunderland, as the standout signing of the summer. The former Liverpool defender’s endorsement comes as Xhaka has quickly become a pivotal figure for the Black Cats, after transferring from Bayer Leverkusen for £13 million.

Since his arrival, the Swiss midfielder has taken on a leadership role, wearing the captain’s armband and significantly contributing to Sunderland’s promising start to the season. His impact is evident in his statistics: three assists and his first goal, scored in Monday night’s 1-1 draw against Everton at the Stadium of Light.

“He must be the signing of the season,” Carragher, 47, remarked. He praised Xhaka’s influence, questioning if any player is currently more pivotal to their Premier League club. “When you consider a player’s impact on their team, I’ve often referred to Manchester City as the ‘Erling Haaland team,’ but is anyone having a greater impact on their club than Granit Xhaka? There can’t be,” he asserted.

Such high praise from Carragher underscores the remarkable impression Xhaka has made since his move to Sunderland, marking him as a brilliant acquisition in the eyes of many football enthusiasts.

‘When you think of someone who’s influential on their team, I’ve been calling Manchester City the Erling Haaland team, but is there anyone right now in the Premier League having a bigger influence on their club than Granit Xhaka? There can’t be. 

Jamie Carragher has named Granit Xhaka as his signing of the Premier League summer

Xhaka joined the Black Cats for a fee of £13million from Bayer Leverkusen and has been instrumental in their early-season success

He bagged his first goal of the season at the Stadium of Light against Everton on Monday

‘An absolutely brilliant signing so far.’ 

Reflecting on the midfielder’s evening against Everton, Carragher added: ‘For me I thought Xhaka was absolutely fantastic again. Not just the goal but head and shoulders above almost everybody on that pitch tonight.’ 

Sunderland started the clash slowly, finding themselves 1-0 down on the 15-minute mark when Iliman Ndiaye weaved past four defenders and side-footed an effort on his weak foot into the top corner. 

It could easily have been two before the break as struggling Everton forward Thierno Barry squandered a gilt-edged chance to double his side’s lead and potentially put the game past newly-promoted Sunderland. 

The home side however came out the blocks flying in the second half, with Xhaka scoring a deflected effort from distance just seconds after the restart.

The match eventually finished 1-1, but Xhaka was critical of his side’s preparation while speaking to Sky Sports post-match, blaming a poor training session on Sunday for Sunderland’s lacklustre start against David Moyes’s side. 

‘To be honest, we lost the three points today in the first 20, 25 in my opinion,’ Xhaka said. ‘Sloppy with the ball, too many easy mistakes and at this level you get punished. 

‘The second half was very good, a lot of emotions, we create many chances and with a little bit more luck we can win this game but in the end we take the one point. 

The Swiss midfielder has already taken the captain’s armband in the north-east

‘Yesterday in training was not our best, and we started today like we finished training. We had that conversation with each other, that at this level we need to show our standards every day. 

‘That’s why I think the first 25 minutes was not quite good enough. After that we came back in the game, the last 25 minutes of the first half was much better without creating too many chances. By the end of the second half, I think we deserved one point minimum.

‘I believe that how you train, you play. We need to review that first 25 minutes but they are not an easy team to play against, very physical, good players at the front, very compact.’  

Xhaka made 297 appearances during his first stint in English football for Arsenal, eventually leaving the club for Leverkusen in the summer of 2023. 

He led his new side to the Bundesliga title during an incredibly successful first season back in Germany before securing a runners-up finish in his second.

He led Bayer Leverkusen to the Bundesliga title during his first season back in Germany

The Swiss maestro also opened up on his decision to leave Leverkusen last night, saying: ‘I didn’t expect to come back to the Premier League but in football, you never know where you land.

‘After two years in Germany where I had a lot of good things, titles.. it gives you confidence with a coach like Xabi Alonso who played in my position on the pitch, who gives you a lot of good advice. 

‘In the end, to be back makes me happy. I knew the project for the club, to bring the experience, to show the guys day by day and hopefully help them. In the end, we have one objective to give everything day by day and see where we land.’  

Xhaka and Sunderland are back in action against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.