Hakim Ziyech's agent responds to rumours of Chelsea return

The agent responsible for sealing Hakim Ziyech's loan move to Galatasaray from Chelsea has denied claims he has asked for the deal to be terminated this month.

Ziyech secured the loan move last summer, with Galatasaray confirming they had not paid a fee for the deal and they had also negotiated the right to sign Ziyech on a free transfer next summer.

A report from Turkish outlet DHA, however, states that Galatasaray could look to terminate the loan this month amid concerns over Ziyech's output, and that speculation was further fuelled when quotes began to surface on social media which allegedly showed agent George Gardi confirming Galatasaray would cut the deal short.

Taking to social media to clarify the situation, Gardi labelled the quotes as "fake news".

"I never made any statement on Ziyech and I don’t know this person who wrote using my name," Gardi added.

Ziyech, 30, has managed 14 appearances for Galatasaray this season, racking up four goals and two assists in all competitions before jetting off for the Africa Cup of Nations with Morocco.

Just what the long-term future holds for Ziyech is unclear. The winger remains under contract at Chelsea until 2025 but is unlikely to return to Mauricio Pochettino's new-look squad if Galatasaray decline to sign him for free at the end of the season.

Ziyech's last Chelsea appearance came in May 2023, when he grabbed an assist in a 4-1 defeat to Manchester United as a late substitute under Frank Lampard - the boss who helped convince Ziyech to move to Stamford Bridge in a £33m deal three years earlier.

During his three years at Chelsea, Ziyech managed 14 goals and 13 assists in 107 appearances, while he helped the club win their second-ever Champions League in 2021.

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