Granit Xhaka has secured a huge move to Sunderland and, in doing so, left Bayer Leverkusen head coach Erik ten Hag embarrassed in the process.

Sunderland stunned the world of football by announcing the signing of the Switzerland international on a deal reportedly worth £17million.

Granit Xhaka has penned a three-year contract with Sunderland, who reportedly paid an initial £13million to Leverkusen along with a potential extra £4million in add-ons.

TBR Football understands that Xhaka has become the highest-paid player in Sunderland’s history.

The former Arsenal captain’s move to the Stadium of Light also made a mockery of what Erik ten Hag had said about him during pre-season.

Erik ten Hag said Bayer Leverkusen ‘won’t let any more go’ just days before Granit Xhaka left

During Leverkusen’s pre-season tour of Brazil in July, Ten Hag claimed that Leverkusen would simply not let Xhaka leave this summer.

The Dutchman stressed that, with Leverkusen having already lost Florian Wirtz, Jeremie Frimpong and Jonathan Tah, there was no intention to sell Xhaka.

Ten Hag told reporters, as per BILD: “His agent can say whatever he wants, but this club has already let three important players go, and we won’t let any more go.

“Granit is a leader, he still has three years left on his contract here

“It’s clear – Granit is a key player, he signed here for five years and still has three years left on his contract. He’s too important to us to let him go.”

Meanwhile, sporting director Simon Rolfes didn’t take as strong a stance towards the prospect of Xhaka leaving, though he seemed to be on the same page as Ten Hag.

“I have repeatedly said that Granit is an important leader,“ Rolfes said. ”The coach and I agree on that.

“We are in dialogue with all our players. In the end, it’s always a three-party situation.

“Granit still has a three-year contract – and in principle, there can only be a change if all three sides agree to it.

“Topics like this always cause discussions and conversations. That’s why it doesn’t shock me.”

In the end, all three sides did agree to it – and Xhaka is now a Sunderland player, which is unlikely to have gone down well with Ten Hag.

Who else Sunderland have signed this summer

Xhaka is Sunderland’s seventh summer signing, following the arrivals of Enzo le Fee, Habib Diarra, Noah Sadiki, Reinildo Mandava, Chemsdine Talbi and Simon Adingra.

The Switzerland midfielder’s arrival takes Sunderland’s summer spending past the £100million mark.

Xhaka made 297 appearances at Arsenal, winning two FA Cups and briefly captaining the side before leaving in 2023.

And at Leverkusen, Xhaka led his side to their first ever Bundesliga title in his first season at the club.