Xhaka, Ekitike, Zubimendi, Woltemade: Who is the Premier League Signing of the Season So Far?

The article focuses on Granit Xhaka's impactful performance and leadership for Sunderland, using his recent injury during a match against Newcastle United as a starting point to evaluate successful Premier League summer signings.

Xhaka, Sunderland's captain, demonstrated intense commitment in the derby, expressing frustration at being forced off briefly to treat a cut eyelid. His drive underscores his vital role for the newly promoted club, which signed him from Bayer Leverkusen for £13 million. The signing is portrayed as an ambitious and persuasive coup by Sunderland's ownership, bringing in an experienced leader to guide a squad unfamiliar with the Premier League. The club's current position suggests this strategy is working towards their goal of consolidation.

The piece then broadens to assess other notable summer transfers. Highlights include Hugo Ekitike's goalscoring for Liverpool, Martin Zubimendi's seamless integration at Arsenal, Bryan Mbeumo's impact at Manchester United, Jordan Henderson's leadership at Brentford, and Gianluigi Donnarumma's assured performances for Manchester City. Other players like Estěvão, Jack Grealish, Malick Thiaw, and Mohammed Kudus are also mentioned as wise acquisitions.

The Sunderland-Newcastle match itself featured two hailed signings: Xhaka and Newcastle's Nick Woltemade. Unfortunately for Newcastle, Woltemade defined the game with a spectacular own goal, while Xhaka "ran the show," continuing his dominant form. The article positions Xhaka as the most impactful signing of the season, even above others like Ekitike, due to his transformative effect on Sunderland.

Finally, Xhaka's move is framed as a story of redemption following a tumultuous exit from Arsenal in 2019, where he fell out with fans after being booed and substituted. His desperate desire to return to the pitch for Sunderland is linked to this "unfinished business" with English football, completing a narrative of adversity overcome through canny recruitment and personal determination.