Moroccan international Hakim Ziyech has faced another setback as Romanian club CFR Cluj has decided against signing him, despite him being a free agent.
Ziyech, who joined Chelsea in the summer of 2020 from Ajax Amsterdam for approximately £40 million, has made 107 appearances for the Blues, scoring 14 goals. He was part of the team that won the UEFA Champions League in 2021, along with the UEFA Super Cup and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Following his departure from Chelsea in the summer of 2024 after a loan spell at Galatasaray, Ziyech briefly joined Qatari side Al-Duhail for less than six months before returning to the free agent market in the summer of 2025.
### Injury and Salary Issues Hinder Transfer
According to Romanian newspaper ProSport, the reasons behind CFR Cluj’s decision to halt the transfer relate to medical concerns. The club stated, “Ziyech did not succeed. He has a problem with his left knee. He is a very nice young man, but we cannot risk a large sum of money on a player who may have health issues.”
They added, “We evaluated his performance during his time at Galatasaray, and he seemed to play with fear. This is why we decided to withdraw from negotiations. He is a special person, but we do not want to take risks.”
The club also revealed that Ziyech requested an annual salary of €2.5 million (approximately £2.17 million), a figure they deemed excessive considering his medical situation.
### Uncertain Future
Hakim Ziyech’s (32 years old) future remains uncertain, as he has not participated in any official matches since May 10, when he played for Al-Duhail against Al-Sadd in the Qatar Cup. His last match in European competitions was on December 1 of last year with Galatasaray against Eyup Spor in the Turkish league.
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