Chelsea’s new magician Hakim Ziyech: Who the hell are you volume 12

Chelsea completed the signing of Hakim Ziyech early (or late depending on who you ask). The Moroccan midfielder will be a magician for the Blues.

It is understandable that Ajax would not want to lose one of their stars in January when they have a very legitimate shot at several trophies yet. On the same note, it is so very Chelsea to sign no one in January and then announce a signing just days later for the summer.

Still, signing a player of Hakim Ziyech’s quality for €40 million is an absolute coup. Chelsea has gotten their hands on one of the most dynamic midfielders/wingers in the game. But who is he?

History

At 26 and still playing in the Erdevise, Ziyech had to take the long route to a club like Chelsea. Ziyech did not hail from a huge academy. He did not have the luxury of the best training, facilities, or coaches as he came up. He bounced around a few Dutch academies before landing in Heerenveen who gave him his professional debut.

He would not stay long however. After a solid breakout season, he transferred over to Twente. It took him only one full season to be named the club captain. Despite being a star for the team, his captaincy was stripped halfway through his second season after he requested a transfer. Ziyech knew he was good, and as happens with some players, that got in his own way.

His wish was granted at the end of that season as he made the move to the Netherland’s biggest club: Ajax. Early on, he still seemed to have discipline issues but the arrival of Erik ten Hag set the player back onto the right course. Indeed, much of Ten Hag’s success with Ajax has been on the back of Ziyech’s versatility.

After their Champions League run last year, it was surprising to see Ziyech stay put. Ten Hag himself admitted as much right before the transfer was formally announced. But much of that had to do with Ziyech maturing at Ajax and the club reaching new heights with Ten Hag. The transfer to a bigger club like Chelsea was inevitable, but it is understandable why it did not happen when Ziyech was younger.

But is he any good?

It would be redundant to include all of Ziyech’s impressive stats here as they have been circulating for days. The bare bones of it is that yes, he is exceptionally good and not just in the Netherlands. His domestic form has very much continued against any and all international opponents showing that he is the real deal.

Perhaps the most noteworthy traits to highlight about Ziyech are his work rate and his versatility. Ziyech is a nonstop worker on and off the ball which makes him a perfect Frank Lampard player. He will press, rotate on attack, play teammates in, and take shots himself from distance (often scoring them as well).

The versatility factor is also key to Lampard. Ziyech is often seen as a 10, but he very often plays on the wing for Ajax as he cuts in on his dangerous left foot. Given the line between wingers and attacking midfielders is a bit blurred when it comes to Lampard, Ziyech is a fantastic addition to that corps.

But what does this mean for Jadon Sancho?

Unfortunately, this signing has not been viewed in a vacuum by every fan. Many are so tied up in the desire for Sancho to join that this signing was met with mixed reviews by some.

Simply put, Ziyech signing for Chelsea does not really mean much when it comes to a Sancho pursuit. As already mentioned, the line between the wingers and the attacking midfielders gets blurred with Lampard so there is very much room for both players to join. That would most likely come at the expense of some combination of Willian, Pedro, or Ross Barkley rather than Sancho versus Ziyech.

But there is some pragmatism in the Ziyech signing when it comes to Sancho. The English winger’s asking price is massive and prohibitive for the vast majority of clubs. The club that does get Sancho will find it absolutely worth it, but that 100 plus million could be split into two or three great players that strengthen a squad more overall than Sancho alone would. Ziyech is a fantastic signing that should walk right into the starting XI, but he is also a bit of a safety net if Sancho proves an unwieldy or unwise acquisition.

What do you think of Ziyech coming to Chelsea? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter!