Could Chelsea sell Ziyech back to Ajax in January?

Stefan Bienkowski
Stefan Bienkowski
  • 6 Dec 2021 09:42 GMT
  • 5 min read
Hakim ZIyech in Champions League action for Chelsea
© ProShots

Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has admitted that if it was up to him he would “definitely” love to make a return to Ajax at some point in his career.

The Morocco international made the move to Ajax in 2016 and went on to bag an incredible 49 goals and 81 assists in just 165 games for the Netherlands giants.

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Such form then earned the winger a £36 million move to Chelsea in 2020. However Ziyech has since struggled to replicate his Eredivisie form in the Premier League, with just nine goals and eight assists in 18 months at Stamford Bridge.

As such, the player was understandably feeling a little nostalgic when asked about a potential return to Amsterdam in the future.

“I would love to. I had a fantastic time there,” said Ziyech in an interview with Ziggo Sport. “It’s a place where I have felt at home, and whether it will ever happen, the future will tell. If it is up to me, it will definitely happen.

“That’s not up to me; I leave that to them. I just try to enjoy every day now and do my thing.

“What the future brings, we’ll see then. Like I said, I hope it happens one day. Whether it will happen is not up to me.”

Could Ajax sign Ziyech in 2022?

While Chelsea would never admit it publicly, the club may be willing to consider offers for Ziyech in January or the summer transfer window.

The player has a contract until 2025, but is certainly not a key figure in Thomas Tuchel’s team. And as such, he could be sold on to recoup some money for other transfer targets.

Even though Ajax have a reputation for producing exciting, youthful talents, the Dutch giants have spent money on signing senior stars when called upon - especially if they have already proved themselves at the club.

In recent seasons the club have signed older players like Sebastian Haller, Quincy Promes and Davy Klaassen. And a move for Ziyech certainly shouldn’t be out of the question.

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