Hakim Ziyech relieved that move to Roma collapsed in 2018

Hakim Ziyech says he is glad a proposed move away from Ajax in 2018 collapsed because it allowed him to improve before joining Chelsea two years later.

The Morocco forward made his Blues debut in last week’s 3-3 draw with Southampton following a £38million move back in February.

Ziyech has previously admitted Barcelona and Arsenal were his two ‘ultimate’ dreams but back in 2018 he was set to join Roma.

Hakim Ziyech is relishing the beginning of life at Chelsea after overcoming a fitness issue

The winger said he is pleased that previous moves away from Ajax didn’t go through

The 27-year-old was set to join Roma back in 2018 before the move from Ajax collapsed

Fortunately for Frank Lampard’s side, the transfer fell through and Ziyech remained in Amsterdam for two more years.

‘Two years ago I almost moved somewhere else but it didn’t happen. For myself, looking backwards now, I’m happy I didn’t because from that moment I had an incredible journey with Ajax as well,’ the 27-year-old said.

‘An amazing time, I improved a lot on the highest stage in Europe and this summer was the time to move on, to step up and I’m really happy I had the last two years at Ajax and I think the last two years improved me a lot – not only as a person, but also as a footballer.’

Ziyech was later followed to England by former Ajax team-mate Donny van de Beek, who joined Manchester United for £40million.

The pair could meet in this weekend’s Premier League clash between the two sides but so far Van de Beek has struggled for game time under Ole Gunnar Solskjaer.

Ziyech was a key member of the Ajax team that made the 2019 Champions League semi-final

Ziyech spoke to the 23-year-old when he moved to England and now urged his former team-mate to remain calm.

‘We spoke in the beginning when he moved to Manchester and in the last weeks we didn’t speak a lot and I also didn’t speak to him about his situation,’ Ziyech said.

‘I think he’ll need time as well, you come from a different country, different style of play and I know for sure it will take some time for him as well to get used to everything and then I know for sure he’ll bring quality to the squad over there.

‘For him the most important right now is to stay calm.’