Retro Granit Xhaka Shirt – Swiss Warrior of Midfield

Granit Xhaka's career began at FC Basel, where he broke through in 2010 and won back-to-back Swiss Super League titles before earning a move to Borussia Mönchengladbach in 2012. At Gladbach, under Lucien Favre and later André Schubert, he matured into one of the Bundesliga's most dynamic midfielders, captaining the Foals at just 23. In 2016, Arsenal paid £35 million to bring him to North London, and what followed was one of football's most turbulent love stories. Xhaka's debut season delivered an FA Cup triumph in 2017, but the years that followed were marked by red cards, mistimed tackles, and the infamous October 2019 incident when he tore off the captain's armband and clashed with the Emirates crowd. Many predicted his exit; instead, under Mikel Arteta, Xhaka transformed. He won a second FA Cup in 2020, became a vital leader during Arsenal's 2022/23 title push, and contributed nine league goals from a more advanced role. In 2023 he joined Bayer Leverkusen and was central to Xabi Alonso's historic unbeaten Bundesliga campaign of 2023/24, lifting the club's first ever league title and the DFB-Pokal. He later moved to Sunderland in 2025, captaining the Black Cats. Internationally, Xhaka has represented Switzerland over 130 times, leading them to memorable runs at Euro 2020 – including a stunning win over France – and Euro 2024.

Xhaka's career has been shaped by extraordinary characters. At Basel, he learned alongside fellow Swiss talents Xherdan Shaqiri and Fabian Frei, while his younger brother Taulant Xhaka famously faced him in a Switzerland-Albania showdown at Euro 2016 – a moment etched in football folklore. At Gladbach, Lucien Favre's tactical schooling laid the foundation for his deep-lying playmaking. Arsenal brought a who's who of teammates: Mesut Özil's vision complemented Xhaka's range, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang's goals were often fed by his diagonal passes, and Bukayo Saka's emergence saw Xhaka mentor a new Gunners generation. Mikel Arteta proved the most pivotal figure, rebuilding Xhaka's confidence after Unai Emery's chaotic spell. Rivalries with Tottenham's Harry Kane and Chelsea's N'Golo Kanté defined countless Premier League battles. At Leverkusen, Xabi Alonso – a midfield maestro himself – unlocked Xhaka's most complete season, partnering him with Florian Wirtz and Jonas Hofmann in a fluid system. For Switzerland, the long partnership with Shaqiri remains the spine of a golden generation.

Granit Xhaka has worn some of football's most striking kits. His Basel shirts from the 2010-2012 title era – red and blue halves with Bâloise sponsorship – remain prized by Swiss collectors. The Gladbach years produced beautiful Kappa designs, including the 2014/15 home shirt with its bold black and green vertical stripes, a kit synonymous with Champions League nights. At Arsenal, his 2016/17 Puma debut shirt, worn in that FA Cup-winning campaign against Chelsea, is iconic, as is the 2019/20 adidas home shirt – the one famously stripped from his shoulders in his lowest moment. Collectors particularly seek his 2022/23 Arsenal home shirt, the bruised-cherry classic worn during the title chase, and the 2023/24 Leverkusen Castore home shirt – red and black, Bundesliga champions. His Switzerland shirts, especially the Puma Euro 2020 home jersey from the France victory, carry deep emotional value. Each Granit Xhaka retro shirt tells a chapter of redemption.