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6 months ago
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Hakim Ziyech looks set to remain with Galatasaray permanently, after a successful loan spell at the Turkish club from Chelsea.
The Blues spent £34m to sign the Moroccan winger from Ajax in 2020, but despite winning the Champions League, UEFA Super Cup and Club World Cup with the London club, he has struggled to fit into the changing nature of the Chelsea team.
In August 2023, Ziyech joined Galatasaray on a season-long loan, with the potential to turn the move into a permanent one.
The Evening Standard reports that the Turkish club would like to follow through on that opportunity, and sign the 31-year-old to their ranks on a full-time basis.
It is not clear how much of their £34m outlay Chelsea will get back by selling Ziyech, but it is all beneficial to their ambitions for the summer transfer window and beyond.
Hakim Ziyech will reportedly join Galatasaray permanently after his loan spell from Chelsea
The Moroccan winger fell out of favour at Chelsea after joining from Ajax for £34m in 2020
A report in January claimed that Galatasaray were thinking of terminating Ziyech's loan early due to injury problems - but that all appears to have passed, and they have been happy with his showing towards the end of the campaign.
Galatasaray are top of the Turkish Super Lig, six points clear of second-placed Fenerbahce, with three games left of the season, including a crucial clash against the chasers on May 19.
Ziyech has eight goals in 21 appearances for the club this season.
He scored 14 goals in 107 Chelsea appearances, but fell out of favour under Graham Potter, and saw a loan move to PSG collapse on deadline day in January 2023 despite his trip to the French capital.
Chelsea missed calls from the French champions at 10.46pm, 10.48pm, 10.49pm and 10.50pm - and sent unsigned documents at 10.55pm and 10.58pm - which ultimately left the paperwork unfulfilled.
A January report claimed the Turkish club wanted to end his loan - but the situation changed
Earlier this season, Galatasaray were declared winners of the Turkish Super Cup after Fenerbahce forfeited the clash by fielding an Under-19 team and walking off the pitch just two minutes into the game.
Fenerbahce threatened to withdraw from the Turkish league as a result of treatment from referees, but club members voted against their withdrawal.
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