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After 18 seasons, Clayton Kershaw is officially calling it a career. The Dodgers announced Thursday that Kershaw will be retiring from MLB at the end of this season, and will make his final regular season start at Dodger Stadium on Friday against the Giants.

Dodgers first baseman Freddie Freeman has been able to spend the final four seasons of Kershaw's career with him after joining Los Angeles in 2022. Freeman, who counted down the strikeouts Kershaw needed to reach the 3,000 milestone this season, spoke about Kershaw's impending retirement ahead of Thursday's game against the Giants.

"It's incredible, even in his 18th year, we've counted on him every fifth or sixth day in this season alone," Freeman said. "He's not a Dodgers legend, he's a baseball legend forever. The greatest pitcher of our generation."

"I think you could sense he just wanted to go out on his own terms," Freeman continued. "Having the toe injury, the knee surgery, everything he went through last year, he wanted to make sure he came back and gave it one more run. Now he gets to retire on his own terms. … Tomorrow night, what a special night it's gonna be. Rightfully so, he deserves every single thing he gets. It's gonna be sad, It's gonna be weird next year when you don't see No. 22 walking around, but I know he'll be around."

Per Fabian Ardaya of Freeman has kept the secret of Kershaw's retirement for about a month. He added that he was surprised that Kershaw actually announced his decision instead of retiring quietly.

Dodgers third baseman Max Muncy added, “I know it’s reality, but I still don’t that I believe it. For as long as I’ve been here, it’s been 22," via Jack Harris of

After dealing with injuries in recent seasons, Kershaw will retire after a strong 2025 campaign, going out on his own accord. He's left an indelible legacy on the Dodgers and all of baseball, and will go down as one of the greatest pitchers of all time. The future Hall of Famer will get to have his career celebrated one last time on Friday at Dodger Stadium, and after everything Kershaw has done for the franchise over nearly two decades, it's sure to be a special night.

England international Ivan Toney was led away in handcuffs after allegedly headbutting another reveller in a London nightclub. The 29-year-old striker, who now plays his club football in the Saudi Pro League for Al-Ahli, was looking to enjoy an evening out with friends during a visit to his homeland. He found himself caught up in an unfortunate incident that saw said festivities cut short.

Witness explains what happened with Toney

has obtained footage of Toney being escorted out of a trendy London nightspot by local police forces. Trouble is said to have been sparked when a fan grabbed at the former Brentford frontman in a bid to take a selfie.

A witness told The Sun: “He walked past a table of a group of lads. One of them recognised him and said, ‘Oh, it’s Ivan Toney’ and tried to put his hands around his neck to get a photo with him. And then Toney has said, ‘Get off me, get off me’ and ended up headbutting one of the guys.”

AdvertisementWhen police arrived at the nightclub in question

The alleged victim is said to have been left with “blood leaking from the bridge of his nose”. It is suggested that Toney may have felt “threatened by the group” that approached him for pictures, with the Three Lions forward sporting some expensive accessories.

The onlooker added: “He’s a superstar – he gets half a million a week in Saudi Arabia. He had his jewellery on and he had a real nice watch. He might have thought they were trying to attack him to take his chain or watch off him.”

The Sun’s insider went on to say of police arriving within 30 minutes of the headbutt incident taking place: “We noticed about five officers in uniform walking down the stairs. And then they’ve gone over to Ivan Toney’s table and asked his name. He’s given his name and they said, ‘You’re under arrest for assault’ and then they put his hands behind his back in cuffs and off he went.”

Statements from London Ambulance Service & Met Police

There are said to have been “a ton of police cars rushing up Wardour Street” as they responded to reports of an attack. A local bartender says that police returned to the area the following day to continue their investigation into what went on.

London Ambulance Service confirmed that a vehicle was sent to Soho at 1:57am following reports of an injury being sustained. A spokesperson said: “We assessed three people. We took one patient to a local hospital and discharged the other patients at the scene.”

The alleged victim is said to have been treated for facial injuries, including a broken nose, and damage to his ring finger. The Sun claims to have seen photos that show the bloodied person in question being tended to by paramedics.

In a statement of their own, the Met Police stated: “We were called to Wardour Street at 00:47hrs on Saturday following reports of an assault. The victim was taken to hospital and his injuries are not believed to be life-changing or life-threatening. A 29-year-old man was arrested at the scene on suspicion of two counts of assault and one count of affray. He has since been released on bail while inquiries continue.”

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(C)Getty ImagesJanuary transfer: Does Toney need move to make World Cup squad?

Toney was back in London during a break in Al-Ahli’s schedule. He met up with England international team-mate Declan Rice after seeing Arsenal beat his former club Brentford in Premier League action at Emirates Stadium.

A return to English football for Toney has been speculated on ahead of the January transfer window. He has been overlooked by Thomas Tuchel in recent Three Lions squads, with it being claimed that a switch may be required in order to earn selection for the 2026 World Cup.

Toney moved to the Middle East in the summer of 2024 and helped Al-Ahli to win the AFC Champions League Elite title during his debut campaign. He has been competing with Portuguese GOAT Cristiano Ronaldo – who is now with Al-Nassr – for Golden Boot honours in Saudi Arabia.

This time last year, the narrative around Chelsea's meeting with Arsenal at Stamford Bridge focused on whether Cole Palmer had reached Bukayo Saka-levels of stardom. He had taken west London by storm during his first year with the Blues and was spearheading an unlikely title charge through the autumn. Now, though, the debate between the two rivals has shifted to midfielders Moises Caicedo and Declan Rice.

That is what has inspired us to construct this list. The Premier League, as the real-life coming of the European Super League, is stacked full of quality. It would stir more debate to rank the top 50 midfielders, but 10 is a) more friendly for us as writers and you as readers, and b) more cut-throat. You want a top-10 spot? Start playing like you deserve one.

When we're talking about 'midfielders', we don't mean your Palmer- or Florian Wirtz- or Eberechi Eze-types who could easily be classified as forwards too. No, no. We're here to discuss the deep-lying variety, those you could get away with playing in centrally in a 4-3-3 without having to worry about their defensive positioning. Performances and fitness over the last couple of years are also being used to split hairs between the creme de la creme. Understood?

Oh, and at the risk of spoilers, the likes of Elliot Anderson, Ryan Gravenberch, Alexis Mac Allister, Adam Wharton, Sandro Tonali and Casemiro do not make the cut. Sorry…

Getty Images Sport10Martin Zubimendi (Arsenal)

Liverpool's inability to get the signing of Martin Zubimendi over the line in 2024 didn't appear to hamper their short-term prospects, with their trio of Gravenberch, Mac Allister and Dominik Szoboszlai strolling to last season's Premier League title without much fuss.

However, the Spain international has immediately proven a hit at Arsenal after deciding to snub the Reds 12 months prior to join the Gunners after one more year at boyhood club Real Sociedad. He oozes class from every pore, sweeping up possession and keeping play ticking so effortlessly.

Zubimendi is not only a leading Premier League midfielder already, but one of the standout stars of the 2025-26 season as a whole. Arsenal have lacked a proper ball-progressing No.6 for a few years, but he has filled that hole and then some.

AdvertisementGetty Images Sport9Enzo Fernandez (Chelsea)

Chelsea know better than any other club that you can solve all your problems if you simply throw enough money at them. Their decision to simply pay the £106.8 million ($140.7m) that Benfica wanted for World Cup winner Enzo Fernandez in January 2023 seemed reckless and brash for the first year or so after that transfer, but is now a little easier on the eyes.

There was little room for a grace period at Stamford Bridge considering the money Chelsea paid for Fernandez's services. Upon arrival, he struggled to keep up with the relentless pace of the Premier League, though almost three years later this is no longer a problem.

The Argentine isn't the most technical of midfielders and you wouldn't really trust him as the main source of creativity in your team, but he does enough of everything to make himself a key component in Enzo Maresca's system, popping up with 10 goals and eight assists in the league alone since the Italian's appointment as head coach.

Getty Images Sport8Dominik Szoboszlai (Liverpool)

Had we pieced together these rankings over the summer, Szoboszlai would probably have been the one midfielder from Liverpool's strongest XI that wouldn't have made the cut. Alas, the poor form of Gravenberch and Mac Allister is partly responsible for their slump so far this season, but you can't point the finger of blame in the Hungarian's direction.

Szoboszlai has offered everything to try and stop the Reds' bleeding, even going as far as to fill in at right-back (a violation of the criteria to make this ranking, but one we're willing to overlook) as Arne Slot searches for a formula to stop the champions' slide down the table.

With three goals and five assists in all competitions from all over the pitch, the 25-year-old is holding up his end of the bargain this term. The same cannot be said for most of his subpar team-mates – get this man some help.

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Getty Images Sport7Granit Xhaka (Sunderland)

If you rewound to 2021 and said four years later, Granit Xhaka would not only be one of the best midfielders in the world but was also playing for Sunderland, you may as well have started telling people that the rapture was coming too. The Swiss star's redemption arc has been incredible to witness.

Where he was once seen as a man-child who wouldn't ever be able to shake his tag as a liability at Arsenal, Xhaka is now a savvy veteran who unquestionably makes the team he's playing with better. He leads not only by inspiration but by example, and it's one of the main reasons why the Black Cats have enjoyed such early success back in the top-flight.

Xhaka is the commander in Regis Le Bris' midfield. Everything comes and goes through him. After leaving the Gunners as an unlikely hero in 2023 and then becoming a legend with Bundesliga-winning Bayer Leverkusen, he's earned that right.

He had attended team training on Wednesday and was at Bangladesh’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan for the duration of that game

Andrew Fidel Fernando02-Oct-2025

Bangladesh women’s coach Sarwar Imran attended the team’s opening World Cup match against Pakistan on Thursday, despite having suffered a stroke on Monday. The Bangladesh team have been keen to stress that the stroke was “minor”.Imran, aged 66, had been discharged from hospital on Tuesday, the day after the stroke. He had attended team training on Wednesday and was at Bangladesh’s seven-wicket win over Pakistan for the duration of that game. He was largely inside the dressing room through the course of the game, rather than in the dugout at the edge of the field.Team manager SM Golam Faiyaz told ESPNcricinfo that Imran had returned so quickly following the stroke to better support the players. “He didn’t want the players to be discouraged,” Faiyaz said. “The doctor has said to keep an eye on him, and we are doing all that. But he’s feeling better.”Having just won in Colombo – the southernmost venue of this World Cup – Bangladesh now fly to Guwahati – the northernmost venue – on a charter flight on Friday morning. Imran is expected to make that trip with the team. Their next match is against England on Tuesday.

Celtic are spending the international break hunting for a new manager and have now found their number one candidate, someone who already has internal approval at Parkhead.

Brendan Rodgers’ departure from the Scottish Premiership champions last month provoked plenty of drama as the Bhoys languished eight points behind Heart of Midlothian in the table.

However, Martin O’Neill has steadied the ship with three victories from four matches since taking interim charge, the highlight being a 3-1 triumph over Rangers to reach the Premier Sports Cup final.

At 73 years of age, the former Aston Villa boss has been linked with an extended stay in Glasgow, and few would argue that he isn’t deserving of a run until the end of the season.

Conversely, O’Neill admitted that he will simply be at the club for as long as he is required, maintaining that he will be informed of developments concerning the Hoops’ manager search at some point during the international break.

He said after the Bhoys defeated Kilmarnock on Sunday: “I have to go back down to London again, I’m going to go into a darkened room and come out on Thursday and say, ‘has this really happened. So I should imagine at some stage or another during the course of the next week, whether it be tomorrow, whether it be Saturday or Sunday of next week, that somebody will let me know what’s happening.”

Despite the brief club football pause, Celtic supporters will be desperate to know of latest developments from Parkhead, and they may now be ready to move for a successor to O’Neill.

Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is Celtic frontrunner

According to The Scottish Sun, Columbus Crew manager Wilfried Nancy is the shock frontrunner to take over at Celtic after the Major League Soccer outfit bowed out at the playoff stage of the competition against Cincinnati.

His strongest rival for the post is Bodo/Glimt boss Kjetil Knutsen. However, Nancy’s assistant Kwame Ampadu is a close friend of Hoops recruitment chief Paul Tisdale, and the latter even managed his son Ethan (now of Leeds United), providing Nancy with the backing in the boardroom.

Wilfried Nancy’s managerial record

Columbus Crew – MLS Cup winners (2023), Leagues Cup winners (2024)

Matches – 132 Wins – 71 Draws – 32 Losses – 33

CF Montreal – Canadian Championship winners (2021)

Matches – 79 Wins – 38 Draws – 16 Losses – 25

Ampadu Sr is said to be almost certain to go to Celtic with Nancy, who is known for his firebrand 3-4-2-1 formation which launches attacks from everywhere and has earned comparisons to Ange Postecoglou during the Bhoys’ managerial search.

Of course, there is still plenty of work to be done before a new successor is appointed, and O’Neill will hold talks with the club hierarchy in the coming days to ascertain whether he will stay on for an extended period in charge.

Celtic could sign a Premier League winner in January for £500k

Either way, there are exciting days ahead for Celtic supporters that could culminate in a permanent hire being made after a lengthy search.

When Ruben Amorim stood and spoke to a disgruntled Old Trafford arena at the end of the 2024/25 campaign, he promised things would improve at Manchester United.

They had to, right? A 15th-place Premier League finish and defeat in the Europa League final had put a cold dampener on any optimism that might have been eked from Erik ten Hag’s dismissal only in October 2024.

But things are improving. Three wins (including the victory at Anfield) and a draw in the top flight have renewed United’s hopes of getting a foot back through the European door. There’s a long way to go, but many players are standing up where they languished before.

The summer recruits have been impactful, but one of the most intriguing stories of the season is the resurgence of Casemiro.

Casemiro is revived in midfield

Man United probably haven’t received bang for their buck since signing Casemiro from Real Madrid for a fee in excess of £70m in 2022.

The 33-year-old has ebbed and flowed, ebbed and flowed, and the brunt of Sky Sports pundit Jamie Carragher’s infamous monologue toward the end of the 2023/24 campaign.

But he’s been increasingly influential under Amorim’s wing, with reporter Alex Turk even going as far as to call him “the soul of this team”. He is playing like he’s regained a few years, having won 58% of his duels and averaged two tackles per game (as per Sofascore).

Partly, this is because Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo are such mobile and athletic forwards. They will drop into deeper areas and connect with their midfielders, thus limiting the amount of ground the Brazilian veteran needs to cover each game.

Casemiro is becoming undroppable in the engine room, but he pockets a staggering £350k-per-week salary and is out of a deal at the end of the campaign, albeit with an option to extend for a further year.

Sourcing a replacement will not be easy, but Carrington graduate Kobbie Mainoo would fancy his chances, even having played such a paucity of football under the Portuguese tactician’s management.

There may, however, be another academy star looking to wedge his way into the senior set-up.

Man Utd's next Casemiro

Manchester United have long boasted one of the richest and most impressive academy systems in world football. And with Marcus Rashford having divorced from the Theatre of Dreams, it might be that a new homegrown hero is needed to add a dimension to Amorim’s reign.

Well, that player could come in the form of U21 starlet Sekou Kone, who, aged 19, has been enjoying himself in Darren Fletcher’s set-up after leaving Malian side Guidars FC for around £1m plus add-ons in 2024.

The robust, rangy midfielder has not featured this season after a horrific collision suffered against Tamworth in August, but he made 14 appearances for the U21s last term and produced some stunning performances, with scout Antonio Mango even claiming he has the skillset to become “a beast under Amorim”.

Aggressive and powerful, analyst Ben Mattinson has noted that Kone is “uber composed on the ball and so press resistant.” Furthermore, it has been said that he has a tireless engine and a range of skills that could see him play that Casemiro-esque role down the line. Elements of this can be traced back to last season, when he shone for the youth side during a 4-1 loss against Huddersfield.

During that heavy EFL Trophy defeat, he only played 42 minutes before picking up an injury, but made a real impression all the same.

It’s important to note that Kone has weathered his share of adversity at this early-career stage. He has the minerals to succeed at a great club like the Red Devils, and he has bags of talent besides.

Casemiro may extend his stay at Old Trafford for another year, but he’s getting old and will only last for so long.

15-year-old forward JJ Gabriel has been included in a number of first-team training sessions this season, and Amorim is willing to welcome up-and-coming talents up to the senior fold if he feels they have the right skillset to make a difference.

Kone certainly does at that, and if he manages to find form and fluency over the coming months, there’s every chance that the boss could view him as a left-field option to help fill Casemiro’s big boots.

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Manchester United could yet improve further in attack under Amorim’s wing.

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Everton’s chances of making a move for an England international have been revealed, with a January transfer potentially taking place.

Everton in need of more attacking firepower

The Blues were beaten 2-0 away to Manchester City in the Premier League on Saturday afternoon, with chances coming at a premium at the Eithad, and Erling Haaland’s two goals downing them.

For Everton striker Beto, it is now only one league goal in eight appearances this season, with James Tarkowski trying to show his support for him after the City game, having nearly found the net.

“I’ve just seen it back, to be fair. [Beto’s] movement is brilliant to get away from the defender; he just got a toe but just couldn’t get close enough to it.So he’s working very, very hard, Beto. He always has done and he always will, so he’s trying his best for us and I’m sure the goals will come soon.”

While there is much to be positive about for Everton under David Moyes this season, a lack of firepower is an issue, with only nine goals scored in their eight league matches in 2025/26 to date.For that reason, a new striker could be looked at when the January transfer window rolls around, and a key update has emerged in that respect.

Everton backed to sign England international Ivan Toney

Writing for The i Paper [via Goodison News], journalist Daniel Storey backed Everton to potentially sign Ivan Toney in January, with the 29-year-old currently plying his trade at Al-Ahli in the Saudi Pro League.

“The answer – what about Ivan Toney in January? West Ham are very keen, but if I were Toney I’d be very enthused about having chances created by Grealish et al and giving me an outside run at a World Cup place next summer.”

Toney would be an intriguing choice for Everton, even if it was only a loan signing, with the former Brentford man surely eyeing a place in England’s 2026 World Cup squad.

His chances of being selected in the squad will only be enhanced if he returns to the Premier League, given the down down in quality in the Saudi Pro League, and it is easy to see him flourishing under Moyes, having been lauded by City manager Pep Guardiola in the past.

“He is so dangerous. He’s a master at using his body for the second ball… Good finishing. You can link with him; he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen (at that hold-up play).”

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He struggled again…

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Toney could hold the ball up similarly to Beto, but also be a far more reliable source of goals, having scored 36 times in 85 Premier League outings, and Everton should take a punt on him in January, should he show signs of wanting a move.

Rizwan, Haris and Fatima Sana are the other three Pakistanis in the BBL and WBBL drafts

ESPNcricinfo staff10-Jun-2025The Pakistan quartet of Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Haris Rauf and Mohammad Rizwan are part of the first overseas draft list of BBL 15, which was released on Tuesday. The draft will be held on June 19 with Brisbane Heat holding the No. 1 pick and having the first chance to pick a player.Sam Curran and Alex Hales from England, Lockie Ferguson and Tim Southee from New Zealand, Sri Lanka’s Kusal Perera and West Indies’ Shamar Joseph are the other six players in the first draft list of ten players.In the WBBL, the Indian pair of Shikha Pandey and Jemimah Rodrigues are in the first nomination list, alongside Deandra Dottin of West Indies and Fatima Sana of Pakistan.Related

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England’s Lauren Bell, Sophie Ecclestone, Heather Knight and Danni Wyatt-Hodge are part of the list too, as are the South African pair of Shabnim Ismail and Chloe Tryon.The draft for the upcoming BBL and WBBL seasons have been brought forward to June to provide clubs more certainty about player selection. According to a CA statement, over 600 overseas players have registered interest for the BBL and WBBL.The teams have already started building their squads. Jamie Overton and Laura Wolvaardt (Adelaide Strikers), Colin Munro and Nadine de Klerk (Heat), Chris Jordan (Hobart Hurricanes), Tim Seifert and Hayley Matthews (Melbourne Renegades), Tom Curran and Marizanne Kapp (Melbourne Stars), Finn Allen and Sophie Devine (Perth Scorchers), Amelia Kerr (Sydney Sixers), Sam Billings and Chamari Athapaththu (Sydney Thunder) are the overseas players to have been pre-signed. Hurricanes have not named a pre-signed player for the WBBL yet and the same is the case for Sixers in the BBL.This season, Heat and Sixers will have first picks for the BBL and WBBL drafts respectively. Both drafts consist of four rounds, with all teams receiving one pick in each round. Teams can select a player who has made themselves available to be drafted in one of four overseas player salary bands: Platinum (round 1 or 2), Gold (round 2 or 3), Silver (round 3 or 4) or Bronze (round 4 only). Teams must use at least three picks including pre-signed players and can pass once.

Dermot Gallagher has now revealed why one Arsenal star wasn’t sent off in a controversial moment during the 2-1 victory against Newcastle United on Sunday.

Gunners come from behind to win at St. James' Park

Prior to Sunday’s encounter, Newcastle had won four of their previous five matches against the Gunners at St. James’ Park, but Mikel Arteta’s side sent out a statement by ending their hoodoo, picking up all three points in dramatic fashion.

Arteta has received widespread criticism for his decision to persist with Mikel Merino in recent weeks, but the Spaniard rewarded his manager for his faith by bagging a late equaliser, before Gabriel headed home in stoppage time to secure an important victory on the road.

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Speaking after the match, Arteta insisted his side thoroughly deserved the victory, saying: “When you get what you deserve at the end there’s no better feeling. I’m so proud of the team and the way we controlled our emotions and navigated through the different stages of the game. We showed the conviction, the courage the desire and the quality we need to get where we want to be.”

However, things could’ve been very different. Gabriel may not have even been on the pitch to bag the late winner if Nick Woltemade had made more of a bust-up with the Brazilian earlier in the match, where the defender appeared to punch the Newcastle striker away from the ball.

Speaking Sky Sports’ Ref Watch, Gallagher said: “I think he’s lucky he didn’t actually strike him properly, because where he’s got lucky is is the referee hasn’t seen it, it’s gone to VAR and the VAR say red card or nothing, and it’s decided it’s not a red card. I don’t think it’s a red card, but I think if the referee sees it he’s certainly going to get a yellow card.”

Gabriel fortunate Woltemade didn't go down

Had the Newcastle striker made more of the incident and gone to ground, the Arsenal centre-back could have been in trouble, given that he clearly makes contact with the German’s face, albeit without a great deal of strength.

That said, the Magpies can also consider themselves fortunate that the decision to award Arsenal a penalty in the first half was overturned, with VAR getting involved after Jarred Gillett pointed to the spot for what he perceived to be a foul on Viktor Gyokeres.

Decisions went against both teams during the match, but Arteta’s side ultimately showed great character to come out on top, moving just two points behind Premier League leaders Liverpool in the process.

Sunderland’s first summer back in the Premier League was always going to be a test of ambition and planning.

After a decade away, the club made headlines with a remarkable £141.5m transfer outlay.

Their recruitment drive was both bold and targeted, bringing in Habib Diarra from Strasbourg, Simon Adingra from Brighton, Chemsdine Talbi from Club Brugge, Brian Brobbey from Ajax, and Nordi Mukiele from PSG.

The early signs suggest that Sunderland’s gamble is already paying off.

A 3-0 win against West Ham on opening day at a sold-out Stadium of Light was the dream start, even if reality soon bit with a 2-0 defeat away at Burnley.

A last-gasp Wilson Isidor winner against Brentford restored momentum, before a gritty goalless draw with Crystal Palace added another point.

With Aston Villa the next visitors, Sunderland are still finding their rhythm, but their blend of youth and experience has drawn comparisons with sides that built stability quickly after promotion.

At the centre of this are two midfielders at very different stages of their careers. One, a veteran leader who has seen it all across Europe.

The other, a 20-year-old whose performances are already hinting at a future transfer value more than double what Sunderland paid.

Granit Xhaka's importance to Sunderland

When Sunderland secured the signing of Granit Xhaka from Bayer Leverkusen for £17m, many questioned whether the 32-year-old would be the right fit for a newly promoted side.

But Xhaka’s pedigree speaks for itself.

Over seven seasons with Arsenal, he made 297 appearances, won two FA Cups, and established himself as one of the Premier League’s most combative midfielders.

His return to England comes after a remarkable spell in Germany.

Joining Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen side in 2023, Xhaka played a pivotal role in guiding the club to their first ever Bundesliga title, going unbeaten in the process.

He was also part of the squad that came agonisingly close to an unbeaten treble, only to be stopped in the Europa League final by an Ademola Lookman hat-trick for Atalanta.

Statistically, Xhaka remains one of the most progressive passers in European football.

Matches Played

33

Goals

2

Assists

7

Progressive Passes

318

Progressive Carries

42

Source: FBref

Last season, he averaged 9.91 progressive passes per 90, ranking him among the best in his position.

His 50.2 carries per 90 also show how comfortably he advances play, while his aerial duel win rate of 61.2% underlines his utility in both boxes.

Now captain of Sunderland and still wearing the armband for Switzerland, he has spoken about embracing “solidarity and suffering” as part of his new challenge.

For Sunderland, his presence provides stability when it is crucial.

Noah Sadiki is Sunderland’s jackpot signing

If Xhaka represents Sunderland’s steadying hand, Noah Sadiki embodies the excitement of the club’s new era.

Signed from Royale Union Saint-Gilloise for £15m, the 20-year-old Congolese midfielder is already proving to be one of the bargains of the summer.

According to the CIES Football Observatory, his value has soared to as high as €36m (£31m) after just a handful of games in the Premier League, exceeding the fee splashed out on Xhaka.

Sadiki had already built an impressive reputation in Belgium before his move, with The Athletic’s Seb Stafford-Bloor describing him as a “properly complete midfielder”.

Since arriving at Union SG from Anderlecht in 2023, he made over 100 appearances and helped the club win the Belgian Pro League title.

Similar to Chelsea’s Moises Caicedo, according to analyst Ben Mattinson, and capable of playing both in midfield and defence, his playing profile is one of his strongest assets.

At Sunderland, however, he has been used predominantly in midfield, where his blend of energy and intelligence has stood out.

Last season, he averaged 1.75 progressive carries per 90, slightly higher than Xhaka, while also posting stronger defensive metrics such as 1.78 tackles and 1.34 blocks per 90.

Despite his youth, he has shown composure on the ball, registering a 30% shot accuracy rate and 0.75 shots on target per 90 – higher than Xhaka’s 0.64.

These contributions have helped him quickly adapt to the physicality and pace of English football.

While Xhaka brings control, leadership, and passing range, Sadiki offers drive, athleticism, and the potential for game-changing contributions.

One thrives on experience and authority, the other on potential and versatility.

Together, they represent a midfield balance that could define Sunderland’s survival and growth in the Premier League.

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Football FanCast’s Market Movers series explores the changing landscape of the modern transfer market. How much is your club’s star player or biggest flop worth today?

Sunderland’s summer was a gamble, but the early evidence suggests they may have struck the right balance between established leaders and rising stars.

In Xhaka and Sadiki, they have captured the two poles of football development – a captain who has experienced everything and a 20-year-old who could yet become one of Europe’s most sought-after talents.

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