Jamie Carragher names his VERY surprising signing of the Premier League season - and he's an ex-Arsenal star

Jamie Carragher has rather surprisingly named Sunderland captain Granit Xhaka as his signing of the summer. 

The Swiss star has been instrumental in the Black Cats' early-season success since joining from Bayer Leverkusen for a fee of £13million in the summer. 

He's already donning the captain's armband, has provided three assists and bagged his first goal on Monday night during Sunderland's 1-1 draw at the Stadium of Light against Everton. 

And speaking after the clash, former Liverpool defender Carragher described Xhaka's man of the match performance on the night as 'absolutely fantastic'. 

'He must be signing of the season,' the 47-year-old said. 

'When you think of someone who's influential on their team, I've been calling Manchester City the Erling Haaland team, but is there anyone right now in the Premier League having a bigger influence on their club than Granit Xhaka? There can't be. 

'An absolutely brilliant signing so far.' 

Reflecting on the midfielder's evening against Everton, Carragher added: 'For me I thought Xhaka was absolutely fantastic again. Not just the goal but head and shoulders above almost everybody on that pitch tonight.' 

Sunderland started the clash slowly, finding themselves 1-0 down on the 15-minute mark when Iliman Ndiaye weaved past four defenders and side-footed an effort on his weak foot into the top corner. 

It could easily have been two before the break as struggling Everton forward Thierno Barry squandered a gilt-edged chance to double his side's lead and potentially put the clash past newly-promoted Sunderland. 

The home side however came out the blocks flying in the second half, with Xhaka scoring a deflected effort from distance just seconds after the restart.

The Swiss international was critical of his side's preparation while speaking to Sky Sports post-match, blaming a poor training session on Sunday for Sunderland's lacklustre start against David Moyes's side. 

'To be honest, we lost the three points today in the first 20, 25 in my opinion,' Xhaka said. 'Sloppy with the ball, too many easy mistakes and at this level you get punished. 

'The second half was very good, a lot of emotions, we create many chances and with a little bit more luck we can win this game but in the end we take the one point. 

'Yesterday in training was not our best, and we started today like we finished training. We had that conversation with each other, that at this level we need to show our standards every day. 

'That's why I think the first 25 minutes was not quite good enough. After that we came back in the game, the last 25 minutes of the first half was much better without creating too many chances. By the end of the second half, I think we deserved one point minimum.

'I believe that how you train, you play. We need to review that first 25 minutes but they are not an easy team to play against, very physical, good players at the front, very compact.'  

Xhaka made 297 appearances during his first stint in English football for Arsenal, eventually leaving the club for Leverkusen in the summer of 2023. 

He led his new side to the Bundesliga title during an incredibly successful first season back in Germany before securing a runners-up finish in his second.

The Swiss maestro also opened up on his decision to leave Leverkusen last night, saying: 'I didn't expect to come back to the Premier League but in football, you never know where you land.

'After two years in Germany where I had a lot of good things, titles.. it gives you confidence with a coach like Xabi Alonso who played in my position on the pitch, who gives you a lot of good advice. 

'In the end, to be back makes me happy. I knew the project for the club, to bring the experience, to show the guys day by day and hopefully help them. In the end, we have one objective to give everything day by day and see where we land.'  

Xhaka and Sunderland are back in action against Arsenal at the Stadium of Light on Saturday.