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This is Xhaka’s second spell in England, having played 297 times for Arsenal from 2016 until 2023.
He then joined Bayer Leverkusen where he won the title under Xabi Alonso in an unbeaten domestic season in 2023-24.
Leverkusen’s then coach, Erik Ten Hag, insisted that Xhaka would not be sold this summer.
But the midfielder left for Sunderland, and Ten Hag was sacked just weeks into the season.
“I wasn’t expecting to come back after Germany, but you never know where you’ll end up,” Xhaka said.
“Being back made me happy. I knew the project to bring experience and show the players day in and day out.
“It’s a pleasure to score a goal.”
Xhaka was a bit of a mischievous – and at times much maligned – at Arsenal.
He was sent off five times for Arsenal and spent six weeks as captain in 2019, clashing with fans and being stripped of the captaincy.
But things went better under Mikel Arteta and he became an important player before leaving in 2023 for Germany.
Carragher said: “After what he went through at Arsenal, he showed great character after that. The impact he had, if he can be part of a Sunderland team that finishes in the top 10 – or even stays at the top – will be remembered for a very long time.”
Former Sunderland striker Marco Gabbiadini told BBC Radio Newcastle: “He embodies the best of professionals.
“When he was an Arsenal player, sometimes I felt like he was a bit of a villain. Over the years we have seen him mature and develop.
“We’ve seen a slightly more reserved version of Xhaka, but it’s actually better than the completely committed, steam-blowing player that is the type of player we saw at Arsenal.
“He is more measured, calmer and more professional. To have that in your team especially when you have a young team, and everyone believes in him, is a talisman.”
“We need to wrap him in cotton wool and keep him for 38 games.”
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