Transfer Centre

Hakim Ziyech confirms he will join Chelsea on July 1

By Barney Corkhill, Editor | 25 April 2020

Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech confirms that he will join Chelsea as planned on July 1, despite the coronavirus pandemic throwing the date of the transfer window into doubt.

Ajax playmaker Hakim Ziyech has confirmed that he will become a Chelsea player on July 1.

The 27-year-old agreed in February to join the Blues at the end of his contract this summer, although the stoppage of play due to the coronavirus pandemic had raised the possibility of him staying at Ajax until the end of the season should that extend beyond June 30.

However, the Eredivisie campaign has now been declared null and void, meaning that Ziyech will join up with his new Chelsea teammates as planned.

"Of course, this clarity is reassuring because nobody knows exactly what is going to happen to the transfer market," Ziyech told Dutch outlet Algemeen Dagblad.

"I really haven't had any doubt for a single second. My signature is on the contract and so yes, on July 1 I will be a Chelsea player. I've never had any other thought."

The decision to cancel the Dutch season without declaring champions means that Ajax, who currently sit top of the table, have been denied the title, a decision which Ziyech disagrees with.

"Of course I would also have preferred to have won the title on the field, but if you have to choose one club as champion, then that would be Ajax for me. You know, I'm not really into club love, never have been. Kissing the club logo, I don't do that kind of thing. I'm just myself, I don't pretend otherwise," he added.

"But I have to admit now that Ajax will always have a special place with me. It really has become my club. I was able to be myself in Amsterdam, as a footballer I have also become much more complete."

Ziyech has scored 48 goals and laid on 82 more for his teammates in 165 games for Ajax.