Hakim Ziyech heading to La Liga? Ex-Chelsea and Galatasaray attacker waiting for all clear to join Spanish side

Despite the transfer window being closed, speculation continues at Sevilla, largely due to the lingering possibility of signing former Ajax and Chelsea star Ziyech. The Moroccan winger and playmaker remains a free agent, and his name resurfaced at the end of August as a potential target, AS reports.

However, Sevilla’s hands are tied financially, mainly due to their inability to offload goalkeeper Alvaro Fernandez. The out-of-favour shot-stopper, renewed by former sporting director Victor Orta shortly before his dismissal, continues to train separately as head coach Matias Almeyda has excluded him from his plans. Efforts to negotiate a transfer or terminate the 27-year-old's contract have stalled, preventing the club from freeing up salary space. A loan to Deportivo La Coruna with an option to buy was on the cards, but the one-cap Spaniard has now been registered in La Liga instead.

Ziyech joined Galatasaray on loan from Chelsea in the summer of 2023, before his move was made permanent in May 2024. However, just six months into his second season in Istanbul, he publicly stated that he "didn't want to play here anymore" in a sensational outburst. His contract was terminated on January 29, 2025, which allowed him to sign for Qatari side Al-Duhail on undisclosed terms. Within four months, though, his contract was terminated by mutual consent. Reports indicated that Serie A side Fiorentina expressed interest in signing him on a free transfer over the summer, but a move never materialised.

Sevilla's new director of football, Antonio Cordon, hinted that Ziyech's arrival was not off the table when providing his thoughts at the end of the transfer window. "We've left a small budget, just in case, at the last minute, some player decides to significantly lower his salary and demands to come to the club. We've left it there," said Cordon. Ziyech has, so far, rejected all offers that have come his way, which could point towards his desire to arrive at the Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.