Hakim Ziyech has completed a free transfer to Botafogo through 2028 after terminating his contract with Wydad, ending a brief Morocco stint that yielded 16 appearances, 9 goals and 2 assists.
Ziyech had joined Wydad in October 2025 on a deal originally set to run until June 2027, but his time there lasted less than a year. In that span he made 16 appearances, scoring 9 goals and adding 2 assists across all competitions, numbers that generated interest elsewhere before Botafogo entered the picture.
Negotiations with Botafogo began in early September 2026 and were not straightforward. Reports indicate a verbal agreement was reached, along with a video presentation, before Ziyech briefly withdrew amid personal concerns. The situation was resolved once his Wydad contract was terminated, clearing the way for him to travel to Rio de Janeiro. He underwent medical examinations and signed his contract at Botafogo’s CT Lonier training facility before the club confirmed the signing publicly.
Financially, the deal is described as cautious. Reports place his monthly salary between R$850,000 and R$1.5 million, considered modest for an attacking starter by Brazilian standards, though the long contract length suggests a multi-year commitment from both sides.
Tactically, Ziyech is expected to fill a left-footed winger role that Botafogo’s scouting department had targeted for some time. Known for his time at Ajax and Chelsea, he is projected to operate as an inverted winger on the right flank, contributing creativity, set-piece delivery and penalty-taking duties. Brazilian media have already labeled him the club’s marquee signing for the 2026–2028 cycle. Ziyech built his reputation as a skillful playmaker known for vision and creativity, qualities that shaped his career before this move to Brazil.
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