Chelsea to Sign Ajax’s Winger Hakim Ziyech in $48 Million Transfer

Hakim Ziyech during Chelsea v Ajax game in November 2019. Photo by Jed Leicester/BPI/Shutterstock

Netherland’s giants Ajax continues to cash in on their young stars. After selling Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt for a combined $160 million in the summer, the club will now also part ways with Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech in a big-money transfer.

Ajax confirmed on Thursday that they have agreed on a transfer that will see Ziyech join Premier League powerhouse Chelsea in July. According to the official statement, the transfer will cost up to $48 million.

“Ajax and Chelsea have reached an agreement for the transfer of Hakim Ziyech,” said Ajax in a statement. “The player will join the Premier League club on July 1, 2020 and will finish the season in Amsterdam.  The clubs have agreed a deal of € 40m. This sum could potentially increase to a maximum of € 44m, with variable factors.”

Following his fine form last season, in which he scored 21 goals and dished 13 assists in all competitions, Ziyech attracted interest from numerous big European clubs. Among his suitors were Barcelona, PSG, and Manchester United, but Chelsea ended up being the quickest to finish the job.

Hakim Ziyech joined Ajax from Twente in 2016 and has since played 159 games in all competitions for the club, scoring 47 goals. He helped the team win Eredivisie and KNVB Cup while leading the league in assists in each of the past four seasons. Ziyech also won Dutch Footballer of the Year in 2018 and was part of the UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season in 2018–19.

Ziyech is Morocco international since 2015 and has scored 14 goals in 32 games since then.

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