Hakim Ziyech has arrived in Rio de Janeiro to finalize his transfer to Botafogo, marking the beginning of the Moroccan star’s first career spell in South America.
The 33-year-old was welcomed at Galeão Airport by Sporting Director Léo Coelho alongside dozens of enthusiastic supporters who chanted his name and voiced greetings in Arabic.
Expressing his enthusiasm for the new chapter, Ziyech said: “This is my first visit, but it was always on my bucket list, and now it has become reality. Brazil is the number one country in football, and the lifestyle here resonates with me; I want to experience it.”
The former Ajax and Chelsea playmaker is scheduled to undergo medical examinations before putting pen to paper on a contract running through December 2028, positioning him as Botafogo’s marquee signing of the current transfer window.
Ziyech hopes his Brazilian adventure will bring back the stability that eluded him in recent years following injury setbacks and limited playing time during stints with Galatasaray and Al-Duhail, before he briefly returned to Morocco to fulfill his mother’s wish.
The winger made 16 appearances for Wydad AC between January and June 2026, scoring 9 goals and providing 2 assists, despite missing 5 matches through injury during a turbulent campaign that saw the club finish fifth in the league after changing managers three times.
Relations between Ziyech and Wydad’s board deteriorated after he had initially accepted a pay cut to join the club, only for the incoming board to request a further reduction in his salary—a demand the player viewed as disrespectful, leading to a mutual contract termination and his departure as a free agent.
Ziyech launched his professional career in the Netherlands with Heerenveen and Twente before establishing his world-class reputation at Ajax, subsequently securing a high-profile move to Chelsea where he lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy. Internationally, he played a central role in Morocco’s historic fourth-place finish at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, registering 25 goals in 64 caps.
The Moroccan international joins Botafogo during a challenging period; the club currently sits 14th in the Brasileirão table with 31 points under interim head coach Rodrigo Bellão following the departure of Franklim Carvalho, with their upcoming fixture against Red Bull Bragantino presenting an immediate opportunity to distance themselves from the threat of relegation.
