Xhaka has to be in the Premier League Team of the Season

Granit Xhaka and Sunderland play their final Premier League match of the year on Sunday.

At 15:00, Sunderland face Leeds United. Xhaka will lead Sunderland in another important match. He has shone in the campaign so far, while Sunderland’s passionate fans hope the 33-year-old will continue in the same vein.

English legend Jamie Carragher has also praised Xhaka for his performances so far.

The former Liverpool great, who is now a football analyst on “Sky Sports”, has selected the best team of the 2025/2026 season so far.

47-year-old Carragher has put Sunderland’s Robin Roefs in goal.

In defence, he has included Crystal Palace’s Daniel Munoz and Marc Guehi, as well as Arsenal’s Gabriel Magalhaes and Riccardo Calafiori.

In central midfield, alongside Xhaka, Carragher has also selected Declan Rice, who plays for the “Gunners” from London.

Manchester United’s Bruno Fernandes has been selected as the attacking midfielder.

Carragher has selected Manchester City’s Erling Haaland, Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo in attack.

Carragher explained his decision to include Xhaka in the best team.

“As for the formation, I have gone with a standard 4-2-3-1. So I have chosen Granit Xhaka and Declan Rice in midfield. The other player who had to be included was Moises Caicedo, and it was very difficult. I didn’t want to put all three in, but I wanted to include a more attacking midfielder. Of course, I have Bruno Fernandes. I think Rice has the edge over Caicedo,” Carragher said.

In England, Xhaka is regarded as the best signing of the summer. This has also been said by several footballers who enjoyed great careers in the past. Among them is Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney.

Carragher also thinks Xhaka is the best signing of the Premier League season.

“I feel that Xhaka’s impact this season has been the biggest of all the signings. He is extraordinarily important for Sunderland. That’s why I feel he absolutely had to be in the team. So I apologise to Chelsea fans, as I couldn’t find a place for Caicedo for these reasons.”

Xhaka joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen in the summer.

The Albanian midfielder spent two seasons at Leverkusen. He won the league title, the German Cup and the Super Cup. He played for Arsenal for many years, which meant that when he returned to Sunderland, he had the necessary knowledge of the Premier League.