Hakim Ziyech has confirmed he will join Chelsea on July 1 as planned, regardless of how the coronavirus pandemic might affect the conclusion of this season, while also slamming Dutch football authorities for not awarding the league title to Ajax.
Ziyech, 27, signed in February a five-year contract to join Chelsea this summer after the Premier League club agreed a £40 million (Dh181.8m) fee with Dutch champions Ajax.
Under normal circumstances, Ziyech would have joined Chelsea at the start of pre-season ahead of the 2020/21 campaign. But the coronavirus-enforced lockdown means the Morocco international could be moving to Stamford Bridge with this domestic season still being played.
Ziyech admits he unsure whether he would be eligible to turn out for Chelsea if, as expected, the season is still happening after July 1, but whatever happens, he will be a Chelsea player from that date.
"After I signed the contract that was it – on July 1 I am a Chelsea player. I haven't given it another thought," he told Dutch newspaper AD.
"It's nice for me to have some clarity. Nobody knows exactly what will happen to the transfer market. Clubs will be more anxious to attract players for large transfer fees.
"The question is when countries will really open again and I can safely start there. And then there is indeed the competition, which is played there. But I have no influence on that, I will see."
While the Premier League appears determined to complete this campaign, Dutch football authorities took the decision over the weekend to cancel – and therefore null and void – the 2019/20 campaign for the Netherlands' top two divisions.
Ajax were top of the table, level on points with AZ Alkmaar but leading on goal difference with nine games remaining. Ziyech, who has therefore likely played his last game for Ajax, has hit out at the Dutch FA and KNVB (Royal Dutch Football Association) for not awarding the title to Ajax.
"Come on, what nonsense I have heard," he said. "We are at the top anyway. All those stories that AZ deserved the title more because they beat us twice. So the goal difference, as it always is, doesn't count now?
"How did PSV become champions in 2007? Exactly, on one goal. That we are not official champions, well. Of course, I would also have preferred to have won that title on the field, but if you have to choose one club as champion, then that would be Ajax to me."
