Former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka reveals the explanation for his dramatic new haircut that he first debuted on a festive ski journey together with his household

The reason for former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka’s new haircut, first debuted in pictures from a recent family ski trip, has been revealed. 

Xhaka stunned fans on social media last month when he was spotted with shaved head, in sharp contrast to his flowing locks of old, while on holiday with his wife Leonita Lekaj and their two children.

The Swiss star has been a mainstay for an impressive Bayer Leverkusen side, who continue to go from strength to strength under manager Xabi Alonso.

Last season, the German outfit went on a 51-match unbeaten streak, upsetting Bayern Munich to win the Bundesliga title and the DFB Pokal.

They currently lie just four points behind Vincent Kompany‘s Bavarian side in the league, having lost just one match this campaign, and are sitting pretty in the Champions League in fourth with 13 points from six games.

The 32-year-old is enjoying something of an Indian summer in his career, playing 25 matches in all competitions in which he has dominated the midfield and provided five assists.

Former Arsenal star Granit Xhaka has undergone a hair transplant during Bayer Leverkusen’s winter break

The 32-year-old revealed his brand new shaved haircut in a heart-warming Instagram post last month

Xhaka is enjoying something of an Indian summer in his career, playing 25 matches in all competitions in which he has dominated the midfield

But like with many men, advancing years can bring with it a loss of hair. In an attempt to address this, the midfielder has undergone a hair transplant at the Ozone Hair Clinic in Kosovo.

Part of the procedure was even documented in a video uploaded on the clinic’s Instagram page. 

Xhaka is currently enjoying a lengthy winter break, with the next match against Borussia Dortmund on January 10 coming five and a half weeks after their last game – a 1-0 win at Bayern to progress in the DFB Pokal.

Prior to the hiatus, Xhaka showed his qualities as a captain in an incendiary interview following a draw against Wolfsburg, when he called upon the squad to ‘be honest with each other’ about their current level.   

‘We don’t need to talk about injury time here,’ Xhaka said, without being prompted, as per BILD. ‘We need to be honest with each other, self-critical enough: This is not enough!

‘It can’t be that we concede three goals every game. Especially the way we concede the goals.

‘It’s not that the opponent takes us apart, combines beautifully and then scores the goals. It’s just that we don’t make the runs well enough.

‘We call ourselves a top team. But a top team doesn’t concede three goals in 45 minutes!’