Hakim Ziyech set to join Brazilian club Botafogo in deadline-week move

Hakim Ziyech, the 33-year-old Moroccan international who once dazzled Champions League defenses at Ajax and Chelsea, appears to be on the verge of an unexpected career detour. The attacking midfielder is in advanced talks to join Brazilian side Botafogo, with the clock ticking toward the September 11 transfer window deadline. The move comes just days after Ziyech mutually terminated his contract with Wydad Casablanca on September 6. A player who has bounced between four clubs in recent years now looks set to add South America to a career passport that already includes stops in the Netherlands, England, and Qatar. A transfer with turbulence Negotiations between Ziyech and Botafogo reportedly accelerated in early September 2026, moving quickly from initial contact to what looked like a done deal. Botafogo even booked a flight for the winger to Rio de Janeiro and prepared a presentation video, the kind of gestures clubs make when they believe the ink is practically dry. Then came the hesitation. Ziyech reportedly grew concerned about the quality of pitches in Brazil’s domestic league, a worry that intensified after conversations with fellow Moroccan player Zakaria Labyad. Labyad’s own...