Ajax forward Hakim Ziyech is set to join Chelsea through the ‘side door’ this summer as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak.
The Tunisian star completed a move to Stamford Bridge in February after another impressive season in the Eredivisie.
He was set to join in the summer after completing the season with Ajax, who he has played for since 2016 after arriving from FC Twente.
However, the matter had become confused as a result of the Coronavirus outbreak, with FIFA set to extend contracts beyond the usual June 30th deadline, meaning players who had already agreed deals would technically have two clubs.
In Ziyech’s case, though, that appears to have been resolved with De Telegraaf reporting that a recent decision from Prime Minister Mark Rutte has effectively solved the issue.
He has announced that large scale events, including football, in the country will be banned until September effectively ending Ziyech’s time at Ajax in the process.
That leaves the club, and fans, with just their ‘memories’ of the player, who will now be joining Chelsea ‘through a side-door’ and not be given the glorious farewell that was probably on the cards.
Nonetheless, it seems there will be no bitterness over his move to Stamford Bridge, with politician Lodewijk Asscher, who successfully started a petition to keep the player in 2019, wishing him well.
“What a privilege it was to have seen Ziyech shine so many times in the ArenA,” he said.
“I wish him all the best; I hope he will sparkle in the Premier League and then return to Ajax to play Champions League here again. To take revenge for Chelsea knocking us out…”
