Morocco World Cup star Ziyech stays at Chelsea after botched transfer

Moroccan winger Hakim Ziyech will remain at West London's Chelsea after bizarre documentation issues saw his planned transfer to PSG cancelled by French football's governing body. 

Terms had been agreed for the Netherlands-born Ziyech to spend the rest of the season at Paris Saint-Germain after an ambivalent period at Stamford Bridge. 

PSG appealed to the Professional Football League’s legal committee, complaining that Chelsea repeatedly sent the transfer agreement without signing it. 

The timeline of Hakim Ziyech’s failed move to PSG. 😱 pic.twitter.com/3CubYIwtkU

— Football Daily (@footballdaily) February 1, 2023

By the time they signed it, PSG says, the transfer deadline had passed.  

Ziyech had passed his medical and was waiting in Paris on Tuesday to be unveiled by the Qatari-owned club.

UK sports reporters said that Ziyech was "incandescent" after arriving in Paris and undertaking medical checks waiting for routine paperwork to be finalised.

His fellow World Cup star, Achraf Hakimi, already plays at the Paris club. 

Chelsea are blaming an "unforeseen technical issue" - though were able to ensure that £300 million was spent on buying new players before the transfer window closed

Many of Morocco’s leading lights play at top European clubs - including Hakimi, Nayef Ageurd and Noussair Mazraoui - who play for West Ham United and Bayern Munich respectively.