Ajax star Hakim Ziyech has already recorded an astounding number of goals and assists this season and we’ve only just started December.
Last year Ajax embarked on a fairy tale campaign. They won both the Dutch league and cup and almost reached the Champions League before heartbreakingly losing to Tottenham at the very last minute possible.
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With Frenkie de Jong and Matthijs de Ligt leaving in the summer, it was believed that the Moroccan playmaker would join them in the mass exodus. However, despite having a reported release clause of a mere €25m, none of the top European clubs came for him. In the end, the 26-year old ended up signing a new contract with Ajax instead.
Ajax star Hakim Ziyech has already recorded an astounding number of goals and assists this season
In hindsight though, this has proven to be a huge mistake. Ziyech is now enjoying a phenomenal season with the Dutch Champions. In 19 games across all competitions, the midfielder has already registered a mind boggling 20 assists and 8 goals already.
This pass from Hakim Ziyech is a thing of beauty. You can never get tired of watching this.😍pic.twitter.com/Ed3f5cKBUD
— BenchWarmers (@BeWarmers) September 5, 2019
To the naysayers that would claim that Ziyech plays in an easier national league, 8 of his assists have come in the Champions League itself. He made 3 assists in the 4 qualifying round matches and has scored a further 5 in 5 champions league matches in a group that consists of Chelsea and Valencia.
5 – Hakim Ziyech has assisted each of the last five goals Quincy Promes has scored for @AFCAjax. Telepathy. pic.twitter.com/yt6hVrhnDR
— OptaJohan (@OptaJohan) November 27, 2019
His 8 goals are also not too shabby for a player who spends most of his minutes in the middle of the pitch and could have ended up with more if his bending free-kick, that found the back of the net after hitting Chelsea Keeper Kepa’s face wasn’t awarded an own goal.
This about as unlucky as it gets 🙈
Hakim Ziyech’s cross hits Kepa square in the face and goes in. Wait for the slow-motion replays… 😬 pic.twitter.com/NRJb5JHeQx
— Football on BT Sport (@btsportfootball) November 5, 2019
Regardless, Hakim Ziyech, who joined Ajax from FC Twente for a low sum of 11 million Euros has already proven to be one of the best in Europe and has helped them remain a force, both in Netherlands, where they are yet to be beaten, and in Europe where they currently top their group with a game left.
Although it is unlikely that Ajax will let go of him in January, the top European clubs may have already earmarked him as a potential buy in the summer. However, this time, he will surely cost them a lot more than the €25m they would have paid this year.
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