By Sulaimon Jamiu
Algerian international, Hakim Ziyech has handed in a transfer request to Chelsea football club, amid his lack of playing time, since arriving at Stamford Bridge.
Due to competition from Kai Havertz, Romelu Lukaku, Mason Mount, Timo Werner, and Christian Pulisic, the 29-year-old has struggled to establish himself as a regular member of Thomas Tuchel’s starting XI, thereby managing to score eight goals and provide six assists in 44 games last season, of which he started 14 Premier League games and was a bench player in another 13.
Ziyech is therefore expected to further his career abroad in 2022–2023; nonetheless, he is still obligated to Stamford Bridge until the summer of 2025, but may now be moving to Serie A, according to a report from last month that indicated Chelsea was willing to consider acceptable offers for the midfielder.
Transfer guru, Fabrizio Romano said, “Ziyech is being discussed by AC Milan, who last year acquired Olivier Giroud and Fikayo Tomori from Chelsea.”
“The Scudetto winners have had the former Ajax player on their radar for some time and are often in contact with his entourage,” he added.
The Londoners paid £36 million to acquire Ziyech from Ajax in the summer of 2020, and the Moroccan has since amassed 14 goals and 10 assists in 83 appearances for the club in the England capital.
In that time, Ziyech has triumphed at Stamford Bridge in the Champions League, Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup. He was also a member of the renowned 2018–19 Ajax team that advanced to the semifinals of Europe’s premier competition.
