Report: Ziyech's loan move to PSG collapses at last minute
Paris Saint-Germain's move for Hakim Ziyech fell apart after Chelsea failed to file the necessary paperwork in time, reports Adam Crafton of The Athletic.
Ziyech, 29, arrived in Paris on Tuesday to complete his proposed loan after the clubs had reportedly agreed to terms, but the deal couldn't materialize because of an apparent clerical error on Chelsea's part.
A PSG representative branded the situation as a "Class A circus," according to Crafton. PSG's appeal to the Ligue de Football Professionnel (the body that runs professional leagues in France) to ratify the deal despite the missed deadline failed, Agence France-Presse reports.
Ziyech was linked with multiple clubs this month, including AC Milan, Roma, and RB Leipzig. He's been searching for more playing time since returning from the World Cup, only starting four Premier League matches for the Blues this season and making 10 league appearances in total. He has one assist in that time and hasn't scored a goal.
With minutes hard to come by at Stamford Bridge, it always seemed likely Ziyech would have encountered the same issue in the French capital, where superstars Lionel Messi, Kylian Mbappe, and Neymar are PSG's established first-choice forwards.
Ziyech probably would have relished the chance to link up with compatriot Achraf Hakimi, with whom he developed a fruitful partnership down the right flank during Morocco's spellbinding run to the World Cup semifinals.