Official: Chelsea, Ajax agree Hakim Ziyech transfer

After seemingly doing nothing at all for the entire month in January, Chelsea got a transfer over the line in what looked like a matter of hours this week, with the official announcement arriving today of the agreement for the signing of Hakim Ziyech.

The transfer will go through at the end of the season (July 1, officially, for FIFA’s registration purposes), but with all terms agreed, that’s mostly just a formality. Obviously, Ziyech will see out the rest of the season at Ajax, as both he and the club wished in January, when they rejected Chelsea’s approach — they’re hoping to do the domestic Double to go along with a Europa League title.

With Chelsea reportedly paying just €45m for the highly rated and fully formed left-footed playmaker, we’re already off to an excellent start in the 2020 summer transfer window.

Ziyech will be expected to complement an exciting but still very young and raw attacking corps — in fact, he may be the oldest member of said group if Pedro, Giroud, and Willian all end up leaving this summer. By then, Ziyech will be 27, and he will be expected to corral his young hatchlings of Callum Hudson-Odoi (19), Christian Pulisic (21), Mason Mount (21), Tammy Abraham (22), and maybe even Michy Batshuayi (26). Can’t wait!

Welcome, Hakim. Let’s win some things!