The summer transfer window continues to produce surprises, and this time, it’s not about new arrivals at the Emirates—but two former Arsenal stars eyeing a return to England.
While Andrea Berta is actively reshaping Arsenal’s squad, there’s growing interest in familiar faces who once wore red and white. Granit Xhaka and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain are both being linked with moves back to English football—and it’s turning heads in North London.
Xhaka to Sunderland?
According to talkSPORT, Sunderland are exploring a move for Granit Xhaka, who seemed destined to join Alexandre Lacazette at Neom SC in Saudi Arabia. However, the Black Cats are reportedly pushing to bring the Swiss midfielder back to the Premier League.
Xhaka left Arsenal in 2023, joining Bayer Leverkusen where he revitalized his career under Xabi Alonso. A return to English football, especially with a newly-promoted side like Sunderland, would be unexpected—but intriguing.
Oxlade-Chamberlain Wants to Come “Home”
Meanwhile, journalist Alex Crook reports that Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain is attracting interest from multiple English clubs after parting ways with Besiktas. The Turkish side was eager to keep the 31-year-old, but the midfielder is said to be “keen to come back home.”
Once one of Arsenal’s brightest young talents, Oxlade-Chamberlain surprisingly still holds the title of Arsenal’s most expensive sale—joining Liverpool in 2017 for close to £40 million.
That fee remains a club record, and considering his modest output at the Emirates—20 goals and 28 assists in 198 appearances—it was quite the deal for Arsenal at the time.
A Career Revived Under Klopp
Oxlade-Chamberlain found more success at Liverpool, where Jürgen Klopp shifted him into a central midfield role. That change unlocked a new level of performance, and he went on to lift the Champions League in 2019.
He spent nearly two years in Istanbul before his recent contract termination, and now, the door is open for a Premier League return. For Arsenal fans, seeing both Xhaka and Oxlade-Chamberlain back in England—possibly lining up against their former club—would be a nostalgic twist to the 2025/26 season.
