Follow Al Rai
Brazilian club Botafogo announced on Thursday that it has officially signed Moroccan star Hakim Ziyech to join its first football team, on a contract extending until the end of 2028, in a free transfer deal following the mutual termination of his contract with Wydad Athletic Club.
The Brazilian club said in a statement: "Botafogo announces the signing of attacking midfielder Hakim Ziyech for the remainder of the 2026 season."
It added: "The Moroccan player (33 years old) passed medical examinations and signed a permanent contract with the club until the end of 2028."
The statement continued: "The player arrived in Rio de Janeiro last Tuesday and was warmly welcomed by the club's fans, and the date of his official presentation will be announced later."
It is noteworthy that Ziyech joined Wydad on a free transfer in October 2025, on a two-year contract ending in 2027, before the club decided to terminate the contract with him by mutual consent last Sunday.
The former Ajax, Chelsea, and Galatasaray player played 16 matches with Wydad last season, during which he scored 9 goals and provided two assists, although injuries kept him out of a number of the team's matches.
Internationally, Ziyech has played 64 matches for the Moroccan national team, scoring 25 goals, and was one of the most prominent members of the "Atlas Lions" during their historic run to the semi-finals of the 2022 Qatar World Cup.
Ziyech's last international appearance for the Moroccan national team was against Lesotho in September 2024, as part of the Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers.
Know more about this story?Send us a tip
Ask about this report — answers stay grounded in its text.
