Hakim Ziyech is set to join Botafogo after leaving Wydad Casablanca, with the former Ajax and Chelsea winger expected to sign a contract in Rio de Janeiro until December 2028.
Hakim Ziyech set for Botafogo move after leaving Wydad Casablanca
Hakim Ziyech is set to begin a new chapter of his career in Brazilian football after leaving Wydad Casablanca and travelling to Rio de Janeiro to complete a move to Botafogo. The 33-year-old Morocco international is expected to arrive in Brazil on Monday before signing a contract that will keep him at the club until December 2028, adding another highly experienced name to the Brazilian game.
The move represents another major change in a career that has taken Ziyech from Dutch football to the Premier League, the Champions League and eventually back to Morocco before this latest opportunity in South America. Botafogo are now preparing to welcome a player who built his reputation as one of the most creative attacking midfielders in European football during his years at Ajax and who later became a Champions League winner with Chelsea.
Ziyech departure from Wydad Casablanca clears the way for the Moroccan to complete his transfer to Botafogo, with the final formalities expected to be concluded once he arrives in Rio de Janeiro. His proposed agreement until December 2028 would give both the player and the Brazilian club a long-term framework rather than a short-term arrangement, despite Ziyech already being 33.
For Botafogo, the arrival of a player with that level of international and European experience would represent a significant addition. Ziyech has played at the highest level of club football and has experienced major competitions in several countries, bringing technical quality, creativity and a considerable amount of experience to a squad competing in one of the most demanding football environments in South America.
Ziyech built his reputation at Ajax
Ziyech became particularly prominent during his period in the Netherlands, where his performances for Ajax established him as one of the standout attacking players in Dutch football. His ability to create opportunities, operate between midfield and attack and produce decisive moments made him an important figure in one of the most exciting Ajax teams of that period.
His performances eventually attracted the attention of Chelsea, who agreed to pay Ajax around €40 million for the Morocco international. The transfer represented a major step in his career, taking him from the Eredivisie to the Premier League and giving him the opportunity to compete regularly against some of the strongest clubs in European football.
The move to England also placed Ziyech in a Chelsea squad with major ambitions domestically and in Europe. His period in London included the biggest club trophy of his career when Chelsea won the Champions League in the 2020/21 season.
That success remains one of the defining achievements of his career. Winning the Champions League placed Ziyech among a relatively small group of Moroccan players to have lifted European football biggest club prize and added another major distinction to a career already shaped by his performances in the Netherlands.
Although his career has followed different directions since those years, the technical qualities that made him such a distinctive player have remained closely associated with his name. Botafogo will now hope that experience can be translated into Brazilian football as the club prepares to integrate him into a new league and a completely different football culture.
A new stage after Wydad Casablanca
Ziyech most recent chapter took him to Wydad Casablanca, bringing him into Moroccan club football after many years abroad. His departure now opens the door to another international move and one of the most unusual destinations of his career.
At 33, the winger arrives in Brazil at a stage when experience can become just as important as physical qualities. Botafogo are not simply adding a player with a recognised name; they are bringing in someone who has experienced major European competitions, high-pressure matches and different tactical environments throughout his career.
The length of the expected contract is also notable. An agreement running until December 2028 suggests Botafogo see Ziyech as more than a temporary reinforcement. Even at this stage of his career, the club appears prepared to offer him an important role over several seasons.
His arrival in Rio de Janeiro will therefore attract considerable attention, particularly because of his profile and the route he has taken to Brazilian football. Moves involving players with extensive European experience have become increasingly important for Brazilian clubs attempting to strengthen their squads while also raising their international profile.
Brazil continues to attract familiar European names
Ziyech is also the latest in a growing group of players strongly associated with Dutch football who have chosen Brazil for a new stage of their careers. Memphis Depay and Zakaria Labyad have already made similar moves, and Ziyech now becomes the third notable name from that football background to make the switch.
The comparison is particularly interesting because all three players became well known through their careers in the Netherlands before taking very different paths abroad. Their eventual arrival in Brazilian football illustrates how the transfer market has become increasingly international, with experienced European-based players now considering South America as a serious destination rather than only looking towards traditional European leagues or other markets.
For supporters in Brazil, Ziyech is already a familiar name because of his achievements in Europe and with the Morocco national team. That recognition means expectations are likely to be considerable once he completes the move and begins training with Botafogo.
His technical profile could also make the adaptation particularly interesting. Brazilian football traditionally places significant value on players capable of creating chances and producing decisive actions in attacking areas, qualities that have defined Ziyech for much of his career.
The challenge will be translating those attributes into a new competition with different rhythms, travel demands and tactical requirements. Even experienced players often require time to adapt when moving to Brazilian football, and Ziyech will be entering a completely new environment after spending most of his professional career in Europe and Morocco.
Botafogo add experience and pedigree
From the perspective of Botafogo, the move offers the opportunity to add both experience and international pedigree. A player who has represented Ajax, Chelsea and Wydad Casablanca brings a very different background to the squad, while his Champions League triumph provides experience of competing under the highest pressure.
That can be particularly valuable inside a dressing room. Ziyech has been involved in title races, European knockout matches and major international tournaments, giving him a level of experience that could benefit younger players as well as providing immediate quality on the pitch.
The club will nevertheless expect more than reputation alone. Ziyech will be expected to contribute directly once he is ready to play, whether through creativity, goals, assists or his ability to unlock organised defences. His left foot and passing range have been among the defining characteristics of his game throughout his career, while his ability to operate from wide positions or in more central attacking areas provides additional flexibility.
The move therefore combines sporting ambition with considerable symbolic value. Signing a player of Ziyech profile reinforces the growing appeal of Brazilian football to established international players and gives Botafogo another recognisable name capable of attracting attention beyond Brazil.
Final formalities expected in Rio de Janeiro
The next step will be Ziyech arrival in Rio de Janeiro, where he is expected to complete the necessary procedures before officially signing with Botafogo. Once the contract is finalised, attention will quickly turn towards when he can begin training and how soon he might become available for selection.
His physical condition will naturally be an important factor following the transition from Wydad Casablanca, but Botafogo will hope the adaptation process can be completed smoothly. With an agreement expected to run for more than two years, there should be less pressure to rush his introduction, although supporters will inevitably want to see him on the pitch as soon as possible.
The transfer also gives Ziyech an opportunity to redefine the later stage of his career. After experiencing Dutch football, the Premier League, European competition and Moroccan club football, Brazil offers something entirely different. The passion surrounding the game, the intensity of domestic competition and the size of the football culture provide a new challenge for a player who has already achieved significant success elsewhere.
For Botafogo, the expectation will be that the Moroccan can combine that experience with the individual quality that once made him one of the most admired players in the Eredivisie. His peak years at Ajax remain an important reference point, while his Champions League medal with Chelsea provides evidence of the level at which he has previously competed.
The move also extends a wider trend of players with strong connections to Dutch football choosing Brazil as a destination. After Depay and Labyad, Ziyech becomes another example of a recognised name making the move from a European football background to South America.
If everything proceeds as expected, Ziyech will arrive in Rio de Janeiro and put pen to paper on a contract lasting until December 2028. From there, the focus will shift away from negotiations and towards football, with Botafogo supporters waiting to see what the former Ajax and Chelsea star can contribute in the next stage of his career.
