Neom has officially withdrawn from the race to sign Bayer Leverkusen star Granit Xhaka after hitting a wall with the high financial demands of the German team.

Journalist Sasha Tavolieri revealed that Leverkusen's management requested an amount of no less than 8 million euros to part with the Swiss midfielder during the summer transfer window of 2025.

Despite Neom's serious interest in the player with extensive experience, the financial terms prevented the completion of the deal, leading the Saudi club to retract from negotiations.

Xhaka, who is 32 years old, is considered one of the key pillars in Bayer Leverkusen's formation and has significantly contributed to the team's success in the German league.

Xhaka's fate remains open to transfer possibilities, with other clubs potentially able to meet the financial conditions of the German club.