Wydad Casablanca face major wage dilemma over Hakim Ziyech

Wydad Casablanca’s newly elected leadership is considering whether to terminate Hakim Ziyech’s contract as it attempts to reduce the club’s wage bill, with the Morocco international reportedly earning about €80,000 a month.

Ibrahim El Asri, elected to lead Wydad Casablanca after the end of Hicham Ait Menna’s presidency, has inherited the issue almost immediately. The 32-year-old president is expected to oversee a major rebuilding of a squad regarded as unbalanced after a disappointing campaign in which Wydad finished fifth in Botola, a competition featuring 16 teams.

Several Moroccan media outlets report that Ziyech could be released as part of the club’s efforts to control its finances. His reported salary, according to Radio Mars, would make him the highest-paid player in the history of both Wydad Casablanca and the Moroccan championship.

Ziyech, who is 33 and has won 64 caps for Morocco, is understood to have no intention of changing the terms of his agreement. His contract runs until June 2027, and the attacking midfielder reportedly wants to see it through to its conclusion.

The former Chelsea and Ajax player is continuing to train normally and remains involved with the rest of the squad, despite the uncertainty surrounding his future.

The new administration’s reported desire to reduce Ziyech’s wages has also caused surprise because it contrasts with the treatment received by former Wydad players Yahya Jabrane, Aymane El Hassouni and Yahya Attiat-Allah. That disparity has led to confusion among observers following the situation.

Ziyech officially joined Wydad Casablanca in October 2025. His first season was affected initially by administrative complications, which delayed his debut until the end of January, and later by injuries.

Even so, he produced a significant contribution when available. The left-footed player made 16 appearances, scoring nine goals and providing two assists.

The club must now decide whether the financial pressure created by his salary outweighs the value of retaining an experienced Morocco international who remains under contract for another season. Any decision would come as El Asri begins the task of reshaping a Wydad squad that fell well short of expectations in the most recent Botola campaign.

For now, Ziyech continues to train and participate in group activities, while his contract remains in place until June 2027. The unresolved wage dispute is therefore one of the first major challenges facing the new Wydad Casablanca leadership.