David Ornstein has revealed that Paris Saint-Germain have an agreement in place with Chelsea to sign £17.5 million-rated Hakim Ziyech on loan until the end of the season. The Moroccan has moved clubs following a brilliant World Cup with his country, with the national team manager Walid Regragui describing him as “incredible.”
Hakim Ziyech to Join Paris Saint-Germain on Loan
🚨 EXCL: PSG have reached agreement with Chelsea to sign Hakim Ziyech on loan until summer. Deal not signed but in place + includes a fee but no option to buy. AC Milan, Roma, RB Leipzig & PL clubs were also interested @TheAthleticFC #CFC #PSG #DeadlineDay https://t.co/hdGW7Yt5oA
— David Ornstein (@David_Ornstein) January 31, 2023
Ziyech Only Wanted PSG
David Ornstein announced that the French champions had beaten teams to the signing of Hakim Ziyech on Tuesday night, with just an hour to go before the transfer window shut.
“PSG will pay a loan fee to sign the 29-year-old for the remainder of the season, but there is no obligation to purchase included in the deal,” Ornstein wrote in The Athletic.
Fabrizio Romano has also confirmed the loan has been arranged, saying that Ziyech “only wanted PSG.” The winger had been linked with Italian sides Roma and AC Milan, as well as RB Leipzig and other Premier League clubs during the transfer window.
PSG are set to sign Hakim Ziyech, here we go! Deal agreed and unlocked on a loan move until June, NO buy option clause included. 🚨🔴🔵🇲🇦 #PSG
Paris Saint-Germain have deal in place with Chelsea, medical done.
Ziyech only wanted PSG.
✈️ Boarding > Paris @TurkishAirlines pic.twitter.com/CgV6OBfJTV
— Fabrizio Romano (@FabrizioRomano) January 31, 2023
A Torrid Time In West London
Ziyech arrived from Ajax in 2020 with a weight of expectation. After being a key part of Ajax’s run to the Champions League semi-final and recording 8 goals and 17 assists the season prior to his transfer, many Chelsea fans believed that the club had signed an elite creator.
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But minutes and output have been few and far between for Ziyech, with the Moroccan weighing in with just 14 goals and 11 assists in 96 appearances for the Blues. He has especially struggled this season with just 10 Premier League appearances and one assist. Game-time for the winger would also be likely to diminish even further following the arrivals of Mykhailo Mudryk and Noni Madueke this January.
Why Do PSG Want Hakim Ziyech?
While his time for Chelsea has been lacklustre, Ziyech showed exactly what he was capable of during Morrocco’s run to the World Cup semi-finals.
Ziyech was an integral part of the team, starting every game and contributing a goal and an assist. He illustrated to football clubs that the same player who starred at Ajax was still here, and earned him high praise from his manager Walid Regragui.
“He’s incredible,” Regragui said. “A lot of people talk about him as a difficult guy to manage but what I see is that, when you give him love and confidence, he will die for you. It is what I give him and he returns my confidence.”
