Chelsea have confirmed Hakim Ziyech has agreed a five-year contract and will join from Ajax at the end of the season.
Ajax announced last week that the 26 year old would be moving to Frank Lampard’s side in a deal potentially worth €44million.
Chelsea director Marina Granovskaia made clear the club’s delight at signing a player who has taken the Champions League by storm in recent seasons.
Ziyech joined Ajax from Twente in August 2016 and was a star performer as Erik ten Hag’s men reached the semi-finals of the Champions League and secured a domestic double last term.
The Morocco international is the first major signing confirmed by Chelsea since Lampard took over as head coach from Maurizio Sarri prior to the start of the season.
Deals to bring in Christian Pulisic and loanee Mateo Kovacic permanently had been agreed prior to Lampard taking charge, and the Blues were then forced to endure a one-window transfer ban after they were found guilty of breaching FIFA rules regarding the signing of minors from overseas.
Their initial two-window suspension was reduced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in December, however, allowing Chelsea to sign players in January, but they failed to secure any new arrivals.
