Granit Xhaka leaves Arsenal to join Bayer Leverkusen

Bayer Leverkusen have signed Switzerland midfielder Granit Xhaka from Arsenal on a five-year deal, the Bundesliga club said on Thursday.

Financial details were not disclosed but British media reported the German club paid €25 million euros ($27.2m) for the 30-year old.

Xhaka joins Xabi Alonso's Leverkusen after spending seven seasons with Arsenal in which he made 297 appearances, with 23 goals and 29 assists, and helped the club win two FA Cups.

Xhaka will return to the German league having had a four-year spell with Borussia Monchengladbach before joining Arsenal in 2016.

"I know the league inside out and I watched it when I was in London. Bayer 04 is a club with an impressive history and ambitious targets," said Xhaka.

"Above all, I see it as a club with a great future. Everybody here is ambitious and wants to achieve something - I'm very much looking forward to the next few years."