Botafogo have reportedly reached a verbal agreement with free agent Hakim Ziyech on a deal through December 2028, pending only bureaucratic steps, with the Moroccan winger’s $2 million salary demand against Botafogo’s roughly $1.5 million offer having been the main sticking point.
A verbal agreement has reportedly been reached over the broad terms of a two-year deal, with only bureaucratic steps and formal signing remaining. Some outlets have specified that any contract would run until December 2028, suggesting Botafogo views this as a longer-term project rather than a short-term addition to the squad.
The financial details remain the central obstacle. Ziyech has reportedly asked for around $2 million per year, equivalent to roughly €1.72 million, plus bonuses. Botafogo’s package includes performance-related incentives rather than a purely fixed salary. That figure is considered low by Brazilian standards for a starting attacking player, and Brazilian sources have framed it as evidence of financial caution on the club’s part, even as Série A wages for similar profiles tend to run higher.
The pursuit fits into a broader Botafogo strategy to strengthen its attacking options. The club has previously made contact with other wingers, including Hinestroza and Gonçalo Borges, reflecting a clear need for width and creativity in the final third. Concerns previously raised about Brazilian pitches and playing conditions have reportedly been addressed during talks with Ziyech’s camp. Known throughout his career as a skillful playmaker, Ziyech’s decision-making and technical quality remain central to why Botafogo consider him worth the financial gamble.
At 32, Ziyech has been repeatedly linked with a move to Gulf football, a region he is said to prefer over Brazil. Several 2025 reports indicated that Botafogo’s earlier interest had not advanced beyond an inquiry stage, and it remains unclear whether a formal proposal has since been submitted. Brazilian and Moroccan media have also noted that Ziyech turned down at least one previous offer from a Brazilian club, with Botafogo described as the leading candidate to eventually sign him.
As a free agent since his exit from Wydad Casablanca, Ziyech continues to draw speculation from clubs in Turkey, Brazil and the Gulf, leaving the outcome of Botafogo’s approach still uncertain.
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