Primary Position – Right Wing

Other position(s) – Left Wing / Attacking Midfielder

Last two seasons’ form – Games 50 / Goals 22 / Assists 30

Born in March of 1993 in the Netherlands, Ziyech started out at the Reaal Dronten and ASV Dronten academies before joining Heerenveen in 2007. He made his Eredevisie debut for the club in the 2012/13 season and scored 11 goals over 36 league appearances. He was signed by Twente ahead of the 2014/15 season for €3.5m. He went on to register 13 goals and 15 assists in the 2014/15 campaign over 33 league appearances. He further improved on these numbers in the 2015/16 season, notching 17 goals and 12 assists over 33 league appearances. Ajax signed him in August 2016 for €11m. His output dipped in his first season with the Dutch giants with nine goals and 13 assists over 32 league appearances. The 2017/18 season was similar with nine goals and 17 assists over 34 league matches. The 2018/19 season was where he really came into his own. He registered 16 goals and 17 assists in 29 league matches as well as notching three goals and three assists in 11 Champions League appearances, playing predominantly on the right-wing. He missed nine games through injury in the 2019/20 season but still managed six goals and 13 assists in 21 league matches. Eligible to play for either Netherlands or Morocco, he chose the latter and scored 14 goals over 32 international appearances. Ziyech featured in the Eredivise Team of the year three times and was also voted Ajax player of the year for the 2017/18, 2018/19 and 2019/20 seasons.

Chelsea have bought one of the most coveted talents in Europe. Renowned for his set piece prowess, he is likely to take over free-kick and corner duties for the London side. He can play in any position across the front three but it is likely that Lampard will opt to use him in his preferred position, on the right wing. 82 assists for Ajax over 165 matches is an impressive number which highlights the creativity he will provide for the likes of Werner and Pulisic. Besides the calf problem which caused him to miss eight matches in the 2019/20 campaign, he has been largely injury free over his career, making an average of 30 league appearances in every campaign prior to 2019/20. He can be expected to nail down the right wing role for Lampard’s side at the expense of Willian and his penchant for goals and assists should make him an enticing Fantasy Premier League (FPL) prospect.   

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