Wydad AC consider early end to Hakim Ziyech contract amid pay dispute

Reports in the Moroccan press suggest Wydad Athletic Club are considering terminating Hakim Ziyech’s contract early, with the Casablanca club struggling to meet the financial terms agreed when the Morocco international joined.

Ziyech is understood to be contracted to Wydad AC until 2027 after signing to play a central role in the sporting project of the Rouges. However, the former Chelsea and Ajax player is reportedly unwilling to accept any reduction in his salary, creating an increasingly difficult situation between the player and the club’s leadership.

The disagreement comes as Wydad’s new management attempts to reduce the club’s wage bill. While the directors are seeking to ease their financial commitments, Ziyech is insisting that the terms negotiated at the time of his arrival are honoured in full.

That has left the two sides at an impasse. The club is facing pressure over its budget, while the player maintains his position on a contract that runs through 2027. The dispute has raised questions about whether Ziyech’s time in Casablanca could come to an abrupt end, despite the length of the agreement.

The situation has also unsettled Wydad supporters during a period of uncertainty around the club. The prospect of losing an important member of the squad has added to concerns over the direction of the team and the decisions being taken during the off-season.

Ziyech is said to want to remain in Morocco and fulfil his commitments to Wydad Athletic Club. His position means the club’s executives must now try to reconcile their financial restrictions with the player’s desire to stay and the terms of his existing deal.

At the same time, the dispute is contributing to tension within the squad. The club’s management is therefore having to balance two competing priorities: reducing the overall cost of the wage bill and managing a dressing room affected by uncertainty surrounding one of its key players.

No final decision has been confirmed, but the reports point to a serious disagreement between Wydad AC and Ziyech. Any attempt to end the contract before its scheduled expiry in 2027 would represent a major change to the sporting plans that accompanied his arrival.

For now, Ziyech’s stated intention is to continue with the Casablanca club, while Wydad’s leadership assesses whether it can maintain the financial commitments attached to his contract. The outcome will depend on whether an agreement can be reached over the player’s remuneration without ending his involvement with the Rouges.