Rabat — Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech is on the verge of beginning a new chapter in his career, with the 33-year-old expected to travel to Brazil to complete his move to Botafogo.
Italian transfer journalist Fabrizio Romano reported that Ziyech will arrive in Brazil on Tuesday to finalize the agreement and sign his contract with the Brazilian side. The deal has been verbally agreed, with the formalities and signature still required before Botafogo can officially announce the transfer.
From Wydad to Brazil
The move comes shortly after Ziyech ended his brief spell with Wydad Casablanca.
The Moroccan club announced Sunday that it had reached an agreement with the player to terminate his contract by mutual consent, bringing his return to Moroccan football to an early end.
Ziyech joined Wydad as a free agent in October 2025 and made 16 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing two assists during his time with the club.
His departure paved the way for a move to Brazil, where Botafogo had already been in negotiations with the Moroccan.
The transfer briefly appeared to be in doubt after Ziyech reportedly expressed concerns over the quality of football pitches in Brazil and requested additional time before committing to the move.
The Brazilian club ultimately managed to revive the negotiations, leading to the current agreement.
A new chapter after Europe
Ziyech arrives at Botafogo with an extensive European résumé.
The attacking midfielder established himself at Ajax, becoming one of the club’s key players and helping the Dutch side reach the UEFA Champions League semifinals during the 2018-19 campaign.
His performances earned him a move to Chelsea in 2020. During his time in London, Ziyech was part of the squad that won the UEFA Champions League in 2021.
He later continued his career with Galatasaray before spells away from Europe, eventually returning to Morocco with Wydad.
On the international stage, Ziyech was also a key figure in Morocco’s historic run at the 2022 FIFA World Cup, when the Atlas Lions became the first African team to reach the semifinals of the tournament.
Botafogo move awaits final steps
Ziyech’s agreement with Botafogo is expected to run until December 2028, according to Brazilian reports.
The Moroccan is now expected to undergo the remaining procedures and put pen to paper before the transfer is officially confirmed.
After a short return to Moroccan football, Ziyech is now on the brink of a very different challenge in Brazil and another unexpected turn in a career that has already taken him from Ajax and Chelsea to the 2022 World Cup and back to Casablanca.
