Emotional Farewell: Hakim Ziyech Tears Up at Ajax Tribute, Prepares for Chelsea Move

After a somewhat disappointing season at Ajax Amsterdam, the Moroccan player was at the Tuschinski Theater in Amsterdam to watch a series of videos about his stay at the club, his moments of complicity with his former teammates, and also read some messages from his many fans, report certain Dutch media.

According to Hakim Ziyech, it is a strange way to close this chapter. He says he had never imagined he would leave Ajax this way "No. This is not what I had imagined, no. I am happy to move on to another stage, but this is not the best way to say goodbye. It’s like you didn’t pass the exams, that’s how it is." And to continue: "You are powerless. It doesn’t seem to me that the season has ended successfully," he added.

During the video, Ziyech also looked back on his progress during his stay at Ajax and the biggest change he has undergone since 2016. This success now allows him to realize his biggest dream: to join a major European football club. The Moroccan framework has signed, a few weeks ago, with Chelsea, a 5-year contract for the sum of 44 million euros, thus becoming the first summer recruit of Franck Lampard.

The former FC Twente player also looked back on Ajax’s epic last year in the Champions League, remembering his best game, the one against Tottenham in the semi-finals and which was won in the last seconds. "The return match against Tottenham is my best match with Ajax. The last 30 seconds are horrible... I didn’t sleep for 2 days!" recalled the Ajax playmaker.

In addition to the video sequence, the star of the Eredivisie championship listened to messages from his fans, including one from his mother. This brave woman has enabled the Moroccan international to reach this level in football. According to the same source, the future Chelsea player could not hold back his tears when he heard his mother’s voice expressing her pride in seeing him next season at Stamford Bridge. "I’m really happy that you’re going to London. Do your best, be careful and behave like a gentleman. I love you and I’m proud of you. Good luck in London," she said.

For the record, after the death of her husband when Ziyech was 9 years old, his mother had to raise all nine of her children alone. "She’s a proud woman. I can see she’s proud, even if she tries to hide it. She’s had a hard life, you know," he replied to the message.