Transfer Centre

Saudi Arabian clubs pushing to sign Chelsea duo Kalidou Koulibaly, Hakim Ziyech?

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 18 June 2023

Saudi Arabian clubs pushing to sign Chelsea duo Koulibaly, Ziyech?

Saudi Arabian club Al-Hilal and Al-Nassr are allegedly pushing to complete the signings of Chelsea duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech.

Chelsea duo Kalidou Koulibaly and Hakim Ziyech are reportedly both in line to join Saudi Arabian clubs this summer.

At the turn of the year, Al-Nassr pulled off the coup of signing Cristiano Ronaldo, and that deal has since acted as the catalyst for more high-profile names to follow.

As it stands, Karim Benzema is the only transfer to be confirmed, with the Real Madrid forward moving to champions Al-Ittihad, but a wide range of moves are expected to be confirmed in due course.

Chelsea are already in line to lose one player to the Saudi Pro League, with N'Golo Kante turning down a new contract at Stamford Bridge to join Benzema at Al-Ittihad in a deal which should be finalised on Sunday.

However, it appears that the 2018 World Cup winner could be joined in the Middle East by two of his current teammates, albeit at different clubs.

Kalidou Koulibaly in action for Chelsea on August 6, 2022 © Reuters

According to transfer expert Ekrem Konur, Koulibaly has already agreed personal terms to link up with Al-Hilal, who tried and failed to sign Lionel Messi.

Although the Senegal international only joined Chelsea last summer, he failed to make a notable impression and could find himself down the pecking order under Mauricio Pochettino.

While Al-Hilal are still said to be in negotiations with the Premier League outfit, all parties seem keen to successfully reach a compromise.

Meanwhile, according to Foot Mercato, Al-Nassr have identified Ziyech as a player who they would like to join Ronaldo in the final third for next season.

Morocco's Hakim Ziyech celebrates scoring their first goal with Azzedine Ounahi on December 1, 2022 © Reuters

The Morocco star made a huge impact during the 2022 World Cup as he helped his nation reach the semi-finals in Qatar, and there is a desire to hand him a return to that part of the world.

Ziyech had hoped to join Paris Saint-Germain in January, only for Chelsea to fail to send their counterparts at Parc des Princes the correct documentation, and PSG have seemingly moved on from the playmaker given the business that they have already conducted since the end of 2022-23.

The report suggests that Ziyech, who has one year left on his Chelsea contract and will be sold this summer, is interested in accepting the big wages on offer at last season's Saudi Pro League runners-up.

Other reports have linked goalkeeper Edouard Mendy with a transfer to the same division at a time when the second-choice stopper is said to be attracting interest in France.