Bayer Leverkusen sign Granit Xhaka from Arsenal for £21.4m

Xhaka joined the Gunners in 2016 and had one year left on his contract but was widely expected to leave the club this summer.

The Switzerland international scored 23 goals in 297 appearances at Arsenal, winning the FA Cup twice and helping the club finish second in the Premier League last season.

The 30-year-old was made club captain by former manager Unai Emery in 2019 before he was stripped of the role a month later for reacting angrily to Arsenal fans after being substituted against Crystal Palace.

Xhaka was close to agreeing terms with Roma in 2021 but was convinced to sign a year-long contract extension and went on to shine under Mikel Arteta, receiving a standing ovation from fans in his last match for Arsenal against Wolves.

The midfielder will return to the Bundesliga after previously spending four years at Borussia Moenchengladbach before he joined the Gunners.

"I know the league inside out and I watched it when I was in London. Bayer 04 is a club with an impressive history and ambitious targets," he said.

"Above all, I see it as a club with a great future. Everybody here is ambitious and wants to achieve something – I'm very much looking forward to the next few years."

Arsenal are on the verge of signing Declan Rice from West Ham for a club and British record £105m.