Granit Xhaka shows off dramatic new haircut as the former Arsenal star makes the most of festive period downtime by hitting the ski slopes with his family

Ex-Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has debuted his brand new haircut as he unwinds on the ski slopes with his family over the festive period.

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.

Xhaka, 32, 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.

This festive season, he has decided it is time for a fresh start – but, thankfully for Leverkusen fans, it is only his hair which is disappearing.

He has been enjoying a skiing trip over the festive period with his wife and two children

The Leverkusen star has been ever-present this season as his side have surged to second

The Swiss international debuted a new style on the ski slopes in a heart-warming Instagram post which shows him enjoying a holiday with his family.

Xhaka can be seen with his wife Leonita Lekaj and their two children sporting a shaved head, in sharp contrast to his flowing locks of old.

They are pictured sitting on a thick bed snow with the two young ones in matching outfits.

In another, Xhaka is walking away from the camera holding one child in his arms and the other by the hand and revealing that the back of his head is also completely shaved.

The post from December 28 has the caption: ‘Family Time is the Best Time.’ 

Xhaka has proved an inspiring captain for Leverkusen and, in an incendiary interview earlier this season, the former Arsenal midfielder was furious about a draw against Wolfsburg as 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. 

Xabi Alonso’s Leverkusen went 51 games unbeaten last year and are also playing well this term

The Swiss international played 297 matches for Arsenal in a seven-year spell in north London

‘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!’ 

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.