Tuesday, January 31, 2023 at 11:07 PM• Davey de Laat • Last update: 23:09

Hakim Ziyech moves permanently to Paris Saint-Germain, Fabrizio Romano reports an hour before the transfer window closes. The leader of the Ligue 1 takes over the fifty-time Moroccan international on a rental basis from Chelsea. Ziyech barely featured in manager Graham Potter’s plans and was eager to leave the Blueswhere he still has a contract until mid-2025.

Ziyech has started just four times in all competitions for Chelsea this season. The winger annex midfielder did not score. At the World Cup, Ziyech was assured of a starting place with Morocco and he was one of the strongholds in the team that reached the semi-finals. At his club, the situation was less rosy. Chelsea also had a direct competitor this winter with Noni Madueke (PSV), while João Félix (Atlético Madrid) and Mykhaylo Mudryk (Shakhtar Donetsk) also strengthened the vanguard.

In the Parc des Princes, Ziyech will have to deal with stars such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappé and Lionel Messi. The Wizard can also play as number 10, but trainer Christophe Galtier mainly plays in a 3-5-2 system. So it remains to be seen for which position the former Ajax player will be reached. In midfield, Ziyech will face competition from Fabián Ruiz, Vitinha and Carlos Soler, among others. In France it is not excluded that as a basic player he will form a tandem on the right with compatriot Achraf Hakimi.

The 29-year-old creative was already linked earlier this season with Manchester United, Tottenham Hotspur, Barcelona and AC Milan, among others. So in the end it became Paris Saint-Germain. Ziyech has made 98 appearances for Chelsea, scoring 14 goals and 11 assists so far. With the Londoners he won the European Super Cup, the World Cup for club teams and the Champions League.