Ajax Amsterdam have announced that Chelsea have completed the signing of Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech for a reported fee of £38 million.
FutballNews reports that the Blues reached an agreement in principle with the Dutch side to take the winger to Stamford Bridge next summer after an offer for the 26-year old was rejected in January. Ajax have now taken to social media to announce the deal.
The Moroccan has been exceptional for Ajax this season, scoring10 goals and making 21 assists in all competitions, taking his tally to 48 goals and 82 assists in 158 appearances in an Ajax shirt. He becomes Chelsea manager Frank Lampard’s first signing.
Confirming Ziyech’s sale to Chelsea in a tweet along with a short video of the player’s performance, Ajax wrote: ‘Hey @ChelseaFC, you have to believe in his magic. And great things will happen.”
https://twitter.com/AFCAjax/status/1227926942122414081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1227926942122414081&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.dailymail.co.uk%2Fsport%2Ffootball%2Farticle-7999839%2FAjax-confirm-38m-sale-Hakim-Ziyech-Chelsea.html
Ajax value the 26-year-old at £42.5million and canceled a £25m release clause in his contract after signing a contract extension last year which will expire in 2022. Ziyech has been influential for the club during his three and a half years at the club after joining from rivals Twente in 2016 for €11 million.
The winger has been linked to a move away from the Eredivisie champions since January. He was linked to Arsenal and Chelsea in January after Lampard identified him as a potential target. However, the Dutch club were adamant to keep him in the transfer window, insisting on keeping him until the summer after they win the Eredivisie title.
Since the playmaker joined the Amsterdam based-club, his performance has alerted some of Europe’s top clubs to enquire about his availability in the transfer window. The Moroccan was spectacular for Ajax in the Eredivisie and in the club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, scoring 21 goals and registering 18 assists across all competitions.
Ziyech was one of the Ajax players that stood out during his side’s thrilling 4-4 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in November. He would certainly fit the bill at Stamford Bridge and add more attacking depth to Lampard’s squad.
Ajax Manager Speaks On Hakim Ziyech’s £38m Move To Chelsea
Ajax manager Erik ten Hag has confirmed that Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech would be joining Chelsea in the summer for £38 million. The Dutch manager added that he thought the midfielder would leave the club earlier.
Chelsea reached an agreement in principle to sign the playmaker from the Eredivisie side in the summer after a bid was rejected for the 26-year-old in January. The Blues are set to announce the deal before their match against Manchester United on Saturday.
Ajax valued the winger at £42.5million after he extended his contract last season which will expire in 2022. The 26-year-old has been linked with several European clubs such as Arsenal and Chelsea. The Blues’ manager Frank Lampard in January identified the Ajax attacker as a potential target, but the Dutch club held on to the winger during the transfer window and vowed to keep him until the summer.
Speaking to Fox Sports on Wednesday, Ten Hag said that the club expected bids from European clubs after the midfielder dazzled against Chelsea in the Champions League.
He said: “Ziyech to Chelsea? A transfer was coming, we expected it to happen.
“And I actually already expected this one or two years earlier. And each time it was: ‘Wow, he stayed again.’
“We are just happy that we will still have him until the end of the season.”
Ziyech has bagged 10 goals and made 21 assists in all competitions for Ajax this season, taking his tally to 48 goals and 82 assists in 158 appearances for the club. The winger has been influential for the club during his three and a half years spell after joining from rivals Twente in 2016 for €11 million.
Ziyech is set to become Lampard’s first signing as Chelsea manager should both clubs agreed and finalised the deal. The midfielder would certainly fit the bill at Stamford Bridge and add more attacking depth to Lampard’s squad.
The Moroccan was spectacular for Ajax in the Eredivisie and in the club’s run to the Champions League semi-finals last season, scoring 21 goals and registering 18 assists across all competitions. Ziyech was one of the Ajax players that stood out during his side’s thrilling 4-4 draw against Chelsea at Stamford Bridge in November.
The Moroccan international is a player with fantastic technique, possessing the ability to dribble and run past players with his good close control, creativity, and speed, while also having the vision and technique to pass the ball. He is an all-round player who is also good at set-pieces.
