Hakim
Ziyech says he will be a Chelsea player as planned on July 1 and is not
concerned his move to Stamford Bridge could be impacted by the ongoing
coronavirus pandemic.
The 27-year-old signed a five-year deal ahead of his move to west London
this summer after Chelsea agreed a £33.3m fee with Ajax for the attacking
midfielder in February.
There is still uncertainty over how to finish many domestic competitions and
how and when the transfer market will re-open, while Euro 2020, originally
set to take place this summer, was postponed for a year.
However, Ziyech is confident his move to Chelsea will not be affected and
says he is relieved that his future was sorted before football went into
lockdown across the globe.
"After I signed the contract that was it - on July 1 I am a Chelsea player.
I haven't given it another thought," he told Dutch daily newspaper AD.
"It's nice for me to have some clarity. Nobody knows exactly what will
happen to the transfer market. Clubs will be more anxious to attract players
for large transfer fees."
Ziyech admits he is unsure as to when he will be allowed to start playing
for his new club with a decision yet to be taken over if and when the
Premier League season will resume.
"The question is when countries will really open again and I can safely
start there," he added. "And then there is indeed the competition, which is
played there. But I have no influence on that, I will see."
Ziyech also slammed the decision to declare the Dutch season void due to the
ongoing pandemic. Ajax were top of the Eredivisie table, ahead of AZ Alkmaar
on goal difference, with nine rounds of matches to play when the season was
suspended.
He said: "Come on, what nonsense I have heard. We are at the top anyway. All
those stories that AZ deserved the title more because they beat us twice. So
the goal difference, as it always is, doesn't count now?
"How did PSV become champions in 2007? Exactly, on one goal. That we are not
official champions, well. Of course I would also have preferred to have won
that title on the field, but if you have to choose one club as champion,
then that would be Ajax to me."
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