Granit Xhaka – Biography, Religion, Wife, and Career Highlights

Granit Xhaka is a Swiss professional footballer born on 27 September 1992 in Basel, Switzerland, to ethnic Albanian parents from Kosovo. He plays as a defensive midfielder for Bayer Leverkusen and captains the Switzerland national team.

Xhaka built his reputation as a combative, left-footed midfielder with a sharp passing range and strong leadership. Over more than a decade at the top level, he has played for Basel, Borussia Mönchengladbach, Arsenal, and Bayer Leverkusen, winning league titles and domestic cups at multiple clubs.

His career includes nearly 300 appearances for Arsenal, two FA Cup trophies, and a historic Bundesliga title with Leverkusen in 2023–24. Internationally, he has represented Switzerland since 2011 and has captained the side since 2020.

Granit Xhaka religion

Granit Xhaka has not publicly declared his religious affiliation in any verified interview or official statement. His family background is ethnic Albanian from Kosovo, a region where many people identify with the Muslim faith, but no reliable source confirms Xhaka’s personal beliefs. The question of his religion remains open, and it is not possible to state it as fact based on available records.

• Granit Xhaka is of Albanian descent and is often associated with the Muslim faith, though he has not publicly confirmed it.
• He married Leonita Lekaj in 2021; the couple has a child.
• His older brother, Taulant Xhaka, is also a professional footballer who represents Albania.
• Xhaka joined Arsenal in 2016 from Borussia Mönchengladbach and made over 200 appearances before moving to Bayer Leverkusen in 2023.
• He is known for his combative style, leadership, and occasional disciplinary issues.
• At Bayer Leverkusen, he became captain and helped the team win the Bundesliga in 2023–24.

Granit Xhaka ethnicity

Xhaka is of ethnic Albanian origin. His family comes from Besianë, also known as Podujeva, in Kosovo. Both of his parents are Albanian, and he has spoken about his heritage on multiple occasions. The family moved from Kosovo to Basel in 1990, two years before Granit was born, according to biographical sources including Football Makes History.

Granit Xhaka nationality

He holds Swiss nationality and represents Switzerland at international level. Some football databases, such as those on Transfermarkt, also list Kosovo as an additional nationality code, reflecting his family background. He made his senior debut for Switzerland in 2011 and has been a regular ever since.

Granit Xhaka wife

Granit Xhaka is married to Leonita Lekaj. The couple wed in 2021 and have a child together. Leonita has appeared alongside Xhaka in personal posts on his official Instagram account, and the marriage has been covered by several sports and lifestyle outlets. Further personal details about their relationship have not been widely published.

Granit Xhaka brother

Xhaka’s older brother, Taulant Xhaka, is also a professional footballer. Taulant plays as a midfielder for FC Basel and represents the Albania national team. The two brothers have faced each other in international matches, including at the 2016 UEFA European Championship, where Switzerland played Albania. The Xhaka family’s footballing lineage is well documented, with both brothers rising through Basel’s youth system. The rivalry between the brothers on the pitch remains one of the more notable family stories in modern international football.

Granit Xhaka Arsenal

Xhaka joined Arsenal in the summer of 2016 from Borussia Mönchengladbach for a fee reported at around £30–35 million. He spent seven seasons at the Emirates Stadium, making nearly 300 appearances across all competitions. In Premier League play alone, official statistics from Premier League show 259 appearances, 18 goals, and 30 assists.

Granit Xhaka dates joined

He signed for Arsenal in May 2016, with the transfer completed before the 2016–17 season. The move came after four years at Borussia Mönchengladbach, where he had become captain in 2015. Later, in July 2023, Xhaka moved to Bayer Leverkusen, ending his seven-year stay in north London.

Granit Xhaka age

Born on 27 September 1992 in Basel, Switzerland, Granit Xhaka is 33 years old. This makes him part of a generation of Swiss midfielders who came through the national youth system together. His age and experience place him among the more seasoned players in the current Switzerland squad and in the Bundesliga.

When did Granit Xhaka join each club?

Xhaka’s senior club career follows a clear progression through Swiss, German, English, and back to German football. Below is a timeline of his moves based on verified records.

1. 1997–2002 – Youth career at FC Concordia Basel.
2. 2003–2010 – Youth career at FC Basel.
3. 2010–2012 – FC Basel senior team; won the Swiss Super League twice.
4. 2012–2016 – Borussia Mönchengladbach; became captain in 2015 and qualified for the Champions League twice.
5. 2016–2023 – Arsenal; made 259 Premier League appearances, won two FA Cups.
6. 2023–present – Bayer Leverkusen; won the Bundesliga in his debut season, the club’s first ever league title.
7. 2011–present – Switzerland national team; captain from 2020, with over 130 caps as of February 2025.

What is confirmed about Granit Xhaka’s personal background?

Some details about Xhaka’s background are well established, while others remain unconfirmed. The table below separates what is known with certainty from what remains unclear.

How has Granit Xhaka’s playing style defined his career?

Xhaka is known as a left-footed defensive midfielder with strong passing range and tactical intelligence. His style is combative and he often dictates tempo from deep positions. At Arsenal, his discipline was occasionally called into question, with several red cards and a notable fallout with fans in 2019 after being substituted against Crystal Palace.

Under Mikel Arteta, Xhaka regained consistent form and helped Arsenal return to the Champions League before leaving for Leverkusen. At Bayer Leverkusen under Xabi Alonso, he evolved into a key leader, anchoring a midfield that went unbeaten through much of the 2023–24 Bundesliga season. His leadership role expanded when he was named captain at Leverkusen and for Switzerland.

Internationally, Xhaka has been a mainstay for Switzerland, featuring in multiple major tournaments including the 2014, 2018, and 2022 World Cups, as well as Euro 2016 and Euro 2020. He has captained the side since 2020 and remains a central figure in the squad. Swiss football fans and analysts recognise him as one of the most capped players in the nation’s history.

Which sources provide information about Granit Xhaka?

The most comprehensive neutral source for Xhaka’s biography is Wikipedia, which covers his career timeline, personal background, and achievements with citations. Official league sites such as the Premier League and Bundesliga provide verified match statistics and player profiles.

ESPN’s player profile offers basic biographical data and career stats, while the Arsenal historic player page covers his time at the club. For his current role at Bayer Leverkusen, the club’s official site is the most reliable source. Xhaka’s personal social media accounts, particularly Instagram, occasionally provide personal updates not found in official databases.

“Granit Xhaka has made over 600 competitive appearances across club and international football, a testament to his longevity and consistent presence at the highest level.”

— Transfermarkt profile summary

What is the complete profile of Granit Xhaka?

Granit Xhaka is a 33-year-old Swiss defensive midfielder of Albanian ethnicity, currently captaining Bayer Leverkusen and the Switzerland national team. His career has taken him from Basel through Borussia Mönchengladbach and Arsenal to Leverkusen, collecting league titles in Switzerland and Germany plus two FA Cups in England. While his religion is not publicly confirmed, his family background, career timeline, and playing style are well documented across multiple official sources. For profiles of other prominent Swiss athletes, see Belinda Bencic – Ranking, Husband, Baby and Career Highlights.

Frequently asked questions about Granit Xhaka