Xhemajli can’t wait to get started on new campaign
Arbenit Xhemajli says he is confident Sunderland will have a successful campaign after signing a two-year deal with the Black Cats.
The 22-year-old joins after a successful trial period in which he made a positive impression on manager Phil Parkinson.
After leaving Swiss club Neuchâtel Xamax at the end of his contract earlier this summer, Sunderland say they have paid ‘significant training compensation’, believed to be a six-figure sum, to secure his arrival.
The Kosovan international could make his debut next week, with Aston VillaU21s set to visit the Stadium of Light for the opening round of the EFL Trophy.
“It feels great to get the deal done,” Xhemajli said.
"I’m really happy to be here and I can’t wait to get started. I had some positive talks with the manager and from what I have seen, I believe we will have a successful season.”
From Neuchatel Xamax to Sunderland AFC is not a path well trodden and as such, it makes Sunderland's fifth summersigningperhapstheir most interesting.
Arbenit Xhemajli piqued Sunderland fans' interest a fortnight ago when he posted a picture outside Newcastle Airport on his Instagram story.
That journey was a crucial one.
Phil Parkinson spoke earlier this summer of the exhaustive work done to vet the countless players pushed in Sunderland's direction.
The club's main analyst, Mark Boddy, is a vital initial part of that process and any player who looks like they could potentially make the grade then comes under Parkinson's microscope.
Parkinson liked what he sawfromthefootage,butthere is no substitute for time on the grass.
That Xhemajli was willing to make the trip and prove his worth was one box very much ticked.
When he arrived, his temperament and attitude ticked another.
The Kosovan was asked to take part in the pre-season
friendly with Gateshead and again, did so without hesitation.
By the time Xhemajli was introduced for the second half, the Black Cats were largely in control and in truth, the 22-year-old was rarely tested defensively.
But there was evidence of his imposing presence, a thumping header from a corner finding the far post.
As a player who has played on the left of a back three before, it was clear that he would fit seamlessly into Parkinson's 3-4-3 shape and provide the natural competition he wanted for Tom Flanagan.
It's an important role in his system as not only does it involve beginning many attacks by bringing the ball out from defence, but there is also a responsibility to provide the defensive protection that allows Denver Hume to get high up the pitch.
"He is 6 foot 3 and we wanted more height in the backline," Parkinson explains.
"He has that physicality but he's also a good footballer. He
can pass the ball and he's mobile.
"We're trying to build a team that can step onto the opposition and be aggressive in the way we play.
"To do that you need mobility in your defence. I feel we've got that now."
Beyond his place in the XI, Xhemajli's arrival is a fascinating one in the wider context of where Sunderland find themselves.
It has been a turbulent summer in which Tony Coton and Richard Hill, influential members of the football operation during the first two seasons of Stewart Donald's tenure, departed.
The Black Cats also found themselves contending not just with the impact of COVID-19 on finances across the game, but also the hugely prohibitive new salary cap rules.
It h a s l e d , w i th ac t ive support from new CEO Jim Rodwell and non-executive director David Jones, to a renewed focus on youth and creating 'value' in the team.
It's the type of climate that has brought Xhemajli, young and with potential to improve, onto the radar.
"Over the course of the summer you get a lot of playersrecommendedtoyou,"Parkinson says.
"As a staff, you spend a lot of time looking at them on the wyscout system we've got and he is one player who we just felt, the age he was at, the ability he had to play on the left of the back three or in a two, as well.
"The wages being reasonable as well, coming into the salary cap era [was key].
"We invited him over because you can sit and watch hours of footage of wyscout, I think I've watched just about every game he's ever played, but it was key to have that few days with him and to get to know him.
"It was important for him as well, because this is a big step.
"There were two Bundesliga 2 teams who wanted to take him, but we worked hard to get it done.
"There will be a period of adaptation for him but he's a player who wants to learn and one who I think will be a quick learner."
If the deal reflects Sunderland adjusting to a new era, then there remains much work to be done.
Both Rodwell and Jones have spoken about their desire to ensure the club are best utilising the wide range of data and analytics available.
It's an essential move if the clubaretofindplayerswhoare capable of generating a significant resale value in the future.
For now, though, the essential head of recruitment position remains unfilled and quite clearly, it has meant extra in this most challenging of summers.
"Weneedtoresolvethatposition," Parkinson says.
"It has been difficult to bring someone in during the current climate.
"We've worked together as a staff and with our analyst [this summer].
"Going forward the head of recruitment and the recruitment team needs rebuilding.”