Hakim Ziyech

Who is Hakim Ziyech?

Hakim Ziyech is a professional football player who plays as a playmaker or winger for the Premier League giants Chelsea and the Morocco national team.

He was born in Dronten in the central Netherlands. Between 2001 and 2007, the Moroccan played for the youth sector of Reaal Dronten and ASV Dronten. In 2007, Hakim joined the Heerenveen academy.

Five years later, Ziyech made his formal debut for them in the first leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League versus Rapid Bucuresti.

Xiyech made his Eredivisie debut for De Superfriezen on 10 August.

On 18 August 2014, Hakim joined Twente for €3.5 million, signing on a three-year deal and taking the number 10 shirt.

For the 2015–16 term, Ziyech was selected as captain of Heerenveen; however, the star was stripped of the captaincy in January 2016, after Ziyech made disrespectful comments against the side and publicly requesting a transfer.

The 2015–16 campaign was the most prolific term in Ziyech’s career, as he netted 17 goals and provided 10 assists in the Eredivisie.

On 30 August 2016, Ziyech joined Ajax on a five-year contract, with a reported transfer of €11 million.

After several brilliant seasons, he has attracted the attention of Chelsea, and in 2020, it was announced that de Joden and the Blues had reached an agreement for the transfer of Hakim for a fee of €40 million.

He signed for the Premier League heavyweights for the 2020–21 season. Ten days later, the west Londoners announced they had agreed to personal terms with the player and that he had penned a five-year contract. He made his league debut for his current club on 17 October 2020.

On 28 October 2020, he netted his first Chelsea goal in a 4–0 away victory over Krasnodar on matchday two of the UEFA Champions League.

Three days later, Hakim started his first league match for the side, contributing with a goal and an assist in a 3–0 away win against Burnley.

In doing so, he became the first Chelsea player since the Spain international Diego Costa to score in his first two starts for the London-based outfit in all competitions.

What is his real position and how does he play?

Hakim’s not really a ‘winger’, but a wide-forward who likes to operate centrally from the flanks and given that he fits well in Thomas Tuchel’s tactics at Chelsea.

As a central player, Hakim can dictate proceedings like a traditional attacking midfielder, and the Morocco star makes it look so easy.

On the wings, however, he has evolved into a cross demon. Hakim can also do his best Arjen Robben imitation by cutting inside and shooting.