Moroccan / Dutch · Dronten, Netherlands · Born 19 March 1993Gifted Moroccan winger of Dutch heritage whose dribbling brilliance and match-winning ability lit up the Premier League and Champions League.
Hakim Ziyech was born on 19 March 1993 in Dronten, in the Netherlands' Flevoland province, to Moroccan parents, and progressed through Dutch youth football with Reaal Dronten, ASV Dronten, and Heerenveen. Eligible to represent either the Netherlands or Morocco, he ultimately chose to play for his parents' homeland, a decision that would define much of his career's later significance. Ziyech moved to FC Twente in 2014 before Ajax signed him in 2016, and he spent four seasons in Amsterdam becoming one of the most gifted creative players in Dutch football, renowned for his exceptional left-footed technique and vision, playing a starring role in Ajax's remarkable run to the 2019 Champions League semi-finals. Chelsea signed Ziyech in 2020, and he won the Champions League in his first season at the club, though his time in England was often disrupted by injuries and inconsistent playing time. He later moved to Turkey's Galatasaray, winning domestic honours, before spells at Qatar's Al-Duhail and a return to Morocco with Wydad AC. Ziyech was a central figure in Morocco's historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup, the first time an African nation had ever reached that stage of the tournament, cementing his status as one of the finest players of his generation to represent an African nation on the world's biggest stage.
Key player in Ajax's 2019 Champions League semi-final run
He helped Morocco reach the semi-finals of the 2022 World Cup — further than any African or Arab nation had ever progressed — in one of the tournament's most extraordinary stories.
Did You Know?How They Played
Creative attacking midfielder with excellent crossing, set-piece delivery and long-range shooting ability
Lasting Impact
Ziyech helped elevate Moroccan football to new heights, becoming the first African team to reach a World Cup semi-final. His success at top European clubs has inspired a generation of North African players.
Career Honours
- Eredivisie 2019 (Ajax)
- AFCON Runner-Up 2021 (Morocco)
- KNVB Cup 2019
- KNVB Cup 2021
- UEFA Champions League 2021
| Club | Period | Fee | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Heerenveen II | 2012–2013 | — | 31 | 14 |
| Heerenveen | 2012–2014 | — | 36 | 11 |
| Twente | 2014–2016 | — | 68 | 30 |
| Ajax | 2016–2020 | — | 112 | 38 |
| Chelsea | 2020–2023 | £37.2m | 64 | 6 |
| Galatasaray | 2023–2025 | — | 23 | 6 |
| Al-Duhail | 2025–2025 | — | 9 | 1 |
| Wydad AC | 2025–Present | — | 12 | 8 |
 Morocco | — | — | 48 | 17 |
Moroccan / Dutch Athletes