Sunderland close in on former Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka
Switzerland international Xhaka, who began his career at Basel before heading for Borussia Monchengladbach, spent seven years with the Gunners and is well acquainted with England's top flight.
Granit Xhaka won two FA Cups during his seven-year stay at Arsenal (Adam Davy/PA)
He joined Arsenal in a £35million switch from Monchengladbach during the summer of 2016 and made 297 appearances for the club, winning two FA Cups, before returning to Germany with Leverkusen in July 2023.
Xhaka, who has been caped 137 times by his country, won the league title at the end of his first season and made 49 appearances in all competitions, 10 of them in the Champions League, during the last campaign.
A combative player, Xhaka was stripped of the Arsenal captaincy in November 2019 after a heated exchange with home fans at the Emirates Stadium.
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Michelle Agyemang's former youth club has praised the England striker's impact on the next generation of young footballers ahead of the Lionesses' Euro 2025 final. The 19-year-old Arsenal forward, who scored dramatic equalisers in both the quarter-final and semi-final, began her footballing journey at Brandon Groves AFC in South Ockendon, Essex. Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team, said her legacy has led to a surge of new recruits. He said: 'It's great for the girls to see someone like Michelle who's played at the same club, from the same area, and from her hard work made it to the highest level. 'When I set the girls' team up in 2022, I started with zero players. 'When Michelle was here, she even had to play on the boys' team. 'Now I've got a squad of 20 girls at my age group and that has all come from the Lionesses – especially their success at the last Euros. 'Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up. 'That's the legacy she has left for us.' Terry Tisdall, 40, who manages the boys' under-11s, said: 'The girls are so proud of her – she's the star of the show. 'They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back.' Agyemang left Brandon Groves for Arsenal's academy when she was around 10 years old before becoming one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Gunners. She recently invited the Brandon Groves players to St George's Park, the home of the England team, so they could watch the Lionesses train. Mr Enright said: 'It meant the world to them – it just goes to show how Michelle cares. 'She was fantastic – she took the time out to speak to all the girls, take selfies and sign autographs.' Agyemang has become one of the Lionesses' stand-out players this summer after netting in the quarter-final and semi-final. Mr Enright, who works as a tech consultant, said: 'The impact is fantastic – there's so much excitement with the girls.' Mr Tisdall added: 'The WhatsApp group chat was going crazy when she scored those goals.' Agyemang, who only made her senior England debut in April, is now expected to feature in Sunday's final against Spain in Basel. And the girls from Brandon Groves will be watching the final together at a local social club. Mr Enright said: 'Everyone's so excited – we're all behind Michelle and it's going to be a fantastic day.'
Western Telegraph
41 minutes ago
- Western Telegraph
Michelle Agyemang's youth team hails Lioness as girls' football enjoys boost
The 19-year-old Arsenal forward, who scored dramatic equalisers in both the quarter-final and semi-final, began her footballing journey at Brandon Groves AFC in South Ockendon, Essex. Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team, said her legacy has led to a surge of new recruits. Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up Roy Enright, Brandon Groves AFC He said: 'It's great for the girls to see someone like Michelle who's played at the same club, from the same area, and from her hard work made it to the highest level. 'When I set the girls' team up in 2022, I started with zero players. 'When Michelle was here, she even had to play on the boys' team. 'Now I've got a squad of 20 girls at my age group and that has all come from the Lionesses – especially their success at the last Euros. 'Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up. 'That's the legacy she has left for us.' They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back Terry Tisdall, manager of Brandon Groves boys' under-11s Terry Tisdall, 40, who manages the boys' under-11s, said: 'The girls are so proud of her – she's the star of the show. 'They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back.' Agyemang left Brandon Groves for Arsenal's academy when she was around 10 years old before becoming one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Gunners. She recently invited the Brandon Groves players to St George's Park, the home of the England team, so they could watch the Lionesses train. Mr Enright said: 'It meant the world to them – it just goes to show how Michelle cares. 'She was fantastic – she took the time out to speak to all the girls, take selfies and sign autographs.' Agyemang has become one of the Lionesses' stand-out players this summer after netting in the quarter-final and semi-final. England's Michelle Agyemang (centre) and team-mates celebrate after the Women's Euro 2025 semi-final at the Stade de Geneve, Switzerland (Nick Potts/PA) Mr Enright, who works as a tech consultant, said: 'The impact is fantastic – there's so much excitement with the girls.' Mr Tisdall added: 'The WhatsApp group chat was going crazy when she scored those goals.' Agyemang, who only made her senior England debut in April, is now expected to feature in Sunday's final against Spain in Basel. And the girls from Brandon Groves will be watching the final together at a local social club. Mr Enright said: 'Everyone's so excited – we're all behind Michelle and it's going to be a fantastic day.'
The Herald Scotland
an hour ago
- The Herald Scotland
Michelle Agyemang's youth team hails Lioness as girls' football enjoys boost
Roy Enright, 45, who manages the girls' team, said her legacy has led to a surge of new recruits. He said: 'It's great for the girls to see someone like Michelle who's played at the same club, from the same area, and from her hard work made it to the highest level. 'When I set the girls' team up in 2022, I started with zero players. 'When Michelle was here, she even had to play on the boys' team. 'Now I've got a squad of 20 girls at my age group and that has all come from the Lionesses – especially their success at the last Euros. 'Given that Michelle is from the area, played for the club, and is doing so well, we're getting even more girls joining up. 'That's the legacy she has left for us.' Terry Tisdall, 40, who manages the boys' under-11s, said: 'The girls are so proud of her – she's the star of the show. 'They used to wear shirts with men's players' names on and now they've all got Agyemang on the back.' Agyemang left Brandon Groves for Arsenal's academy when she was around 10 years old before becoming one of the most highly rated youngsters at the Gunners. She recently invited the Brandon Groves players to St George's Park, the home of the England team, so they could watch the Lionesses train. Mr Enright said: 'It meant the world to them – it just goes to show how Michelle cares. 'She was fantastic – she took the time out to speak to all the girls, take selfies and sign autographs.' Agyemang has become one of the Lionesses' stand-out players this summer after netting in the quarter-final and semi-final. England's Michelle Agyemang (centre) and team-mates celebrate after the Women's Euro 2025 semi-final at the Stade de Geneve, Switzerland (Nick Potts/PA) Mr Enright, who works as a tech consultant, said: 'The impact is fantastic – there's so much excitement with the girls.' Mr Tisdall added: 'The WhatsApp group chat was going crazy when she scored those goals.' Agyemang, who only made her senior England debut in April, is now expected to feature in Sunday's final against Spain in Basel. And the girls from Brandon Groves will be watching the final together at a local social club. Mr Enright said: 'Everyone's so excited – we're all behind Michelle and it's going to be a fantastic day.'
