Wayne Rooney thinks Granit Xhaka is the best newcomer at a Premier League club this season.
Xhaka joined Sunderland from Bayer Leverkusen this summer for a reported £17.3m (€20m), ahead of the Black Cats’ first season in the top flight since 2016-17.
The midfielder made an immediate impact, playing a crucial role – and taking on the captain’s armband – as the Regis Le Bris team made a fantastic start to the season.
Sunderland are fourth, just three points off second place, after a 2-2 draw against Xhaka’s former club Arsenal on Saturday.
And Rooney believes the 33-year-old has proven himself as the Premier League’s standout signing.
Speaking on the Wayne Rooney Show, Manchester United’s record goalscorer said: “When you come back to the Premier League you wonder if he can do it.
“What impact could he have, now that a promoted team is also on the way?
“But he was probably the signing of the season. He was brilliant.”
In the league this season, Xhaka leads Sunderland for assists (three), expected assists (1.2), successful passes (494), passes played in the penalty area (60), chances created (16) and duels won (67).
Among Premier League outfielders, only three players have successfully completed more long passes than the Swiss international’s 52.
Rooney added: “Sunderland also have a very young squad. He would be almost a father figure and he will also be a great help to the coach as a go-between as captain.”
“And they have made a lot of signings this summer. He will be a huge help to the manager and certainly to the players because of his experience.”
Rooney also believes that Xhaka’s experience at Arsenal, where he returned after falling out of favor with the fanbase and later becoming a key player under Mikel Arteta, has made him a much stronger character, combined with the success he had during his two-year spell at Leverkusen.
“When he had the situation with Arsenal and got into a fight with the fans, it showed his character to play for Arsenal again,” Rooney said.
“To come through that and then go on to perform for Arsenal, and then be part of a team at Leverkusen that beat Bayern Munich to the title for the first time in more than a decade, has shown what a good player he is.”
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