Biography
Who is Granit Xhaka?
Early life
Granit Xhaka was born on September 27, 1992, in the city of Basel, Switzerland. He grew up in an ethnic Albanian family alongside his brother, Taulant Xhaka, who also became a professional football player. The family relocated to Basel from Besiane in Kosovo during the year 1990.
Granit started his youth football development with Concordia Basel before joining the youth department of FC Basel at the end of 2002. He advanced steadily through the various age groups within the club. During the 2006 and 2007 season, he was part of the under-15 squad that won the Swiss championship without dropping a single point, setting a well-known record with a large goal difference. He continued his success by winning championships at the under-16 and under-18 levels.
Club career with Basel
Granit Xhaka made his progression into Basel's under-21 team, playing in the third tier of Swiss football. On November 15, 2008, he made his appearance as a substitute in a match against Cham. He scored his first goal at that level and helped the team secure the division championship.
At the start of the 2010 and 2011 season, Granit advanced to Basel's first team under head coach Thorsten Fink. He made his debut in a UEFA Champions League qualifying match against Debrecen, where he also scored his team's second goal. He won the Swiss Super League title in his debut professional season and later secured a domestic double before leaving the club.
Borussia Mönchengladbach and Arsenal
In May 2012, Granit signed a five-year deal with German club Borussia Monchengladbach. He established himself in the Bundesliga, starting all matches during the 2014 and 2015 season and earning a spot in the league team of the season. He helped the club qualify for the UEFA Champions League and frequently served as team captain.
Arsenal signed Granit from Borussia Monchengladbach in May 2016 for a reported fee of around thirty-five million pounds. Over seven years with the Premier League club, he made nearly three hundred appearances. He won two FA Cups, played in the team's triumphant cup campaigns, and eventually served as team captain before departing in 2023.
International career
Granit Xhaka represented Switzerland at various youth levels and was part of the squad that won the 2009 FIFA under-17 World Cup. He made his senior international debut for the Switzerland men's national football team in 2011.
He became the nation's record appearance holder, earning over one hundred and fifty caps. Granit has represented Switzerland at multiple FIFA World Cups, including the tournaments in 2014, 2018, 2022, and 2026, as well as multiple UEFA European Championships.
Granit Xhaka height and personal life
Granit Xhaka stands at a height of 185 centimeters. He holds Swiss nationality and was born in Basel, Switzerland. His brother Taulant is also a professional football player who has represented Basel.
Birthday and age
Granit Xhaka was born on September 27, 1992, which makes Granit 34 years old today. That birthday falls under the Libra sign. Granit shares the date with 68 other famous people.
Explore more
