Former Chelsea winger Hakim Ziyech has suffered another career setback after Romanian club CFR Cluj pulled out of talks to sign him. Club owner Ioan Varga cited concerns over the Moroccan's knee injury and high wage demands as reasons for ending negotiations.
Ziyech, 32, joined Chelsea from Ajax in 2020 for £37.8 million and was part of the squad that won the Champions League in 2021, though he did not play in the final. He made 107 appearances for the Blues, scoring 14 goals and providing 13 assists, before moving to Galatasaray in 2023. His contract there was terminated, and a subsequent short stint at Qatari side Al-Duhail ended in May 2025.
Varga told Romanian outlet Prosport: 'Ziyech failed, he has a problem in his left knee that I was informed about. He's a very good guy, but I wouldn't risk that much money for a player who might have medical problems. I also studied him in the Galatasaray games, and he seemed to play with some fear.'
The owner added that Ziyech demanded €2.5 million per year, which Cluj deemed too high for a player with potential fitness issues. 'We have made the decision to withdraw from the talks. I'm sorry, because he's a special boy, but I don't want to risk it,' Varga said.
Cluj, currently 12th in the Romanian top flight, have recently signed former Chelsea and West Ham defender Kurt Zouma and ex-Leicester forward Islam Slimani as part of their squad investment. Ziyech remains a free agent after his Al-Duhail contract was cancelled in May.
