Cristiano Ronaldo’s newest STAR teammate announced by Romano

Robin Bairner

• 21 Jun 2023 09:03 BST
• 3 min read

Cristiano Ronaldo will be joined by Chelsea star Hakim Ziyech at Al-Nassr, Fabrizio Romano has announced, with the transfer specialist giving the move his famous ‘Here we go!’ catchphrase.

Ronaldo has been with Al-Nassr since he was released by mutual consent by Manchester United prior to the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.

The arrival of the Portuguese superstar has been a catalyst for major investment in the Saudi Pro League, with Karim Benzema and N’Golo Kante both joining defending champions Al-Ittihad on free transfers this summer.

MORE: NEW Chelsea star in Saudi Pro League link as Kante signs €100m deal

While those deals have been quick to take place, there are a number of moves involving Saudi Pro League clubs that may take place.

These principally involve Chelsea, whose owner Todd Boehly has links with the Saudi PIF, which has stakes in four leading Pro League clubs and has a close but opaque relationship with Clearlake Capital, which owns 60% of the Stamford Bridge side.

Romelu Lukaku, Edouard Mendy and Callum Hudson-Odoi are just three Blues misfits linked with a move to the Saudi Pro League this summer, and while it is unclear if any of these deals will be done, Romano has confirmed that Ziyech will leave the Londoners to join Ronaldo at Al-Nassr.

MORE: Premier League star in Ronaldo dig as he REJECTS Saudi Arabia

He reports: “Understand Al Nassr have reached full verbal agreement with Hakim Ziyech to join the club. Personal terms agreed.

“Ziyech will sign until June 2026, if all goes to plan.

“Agreement reached also with Chelsea, waiting to prepare, check then sign contracts.

“Here we go!”

Ronaldo will welcome the deal, having been frustrated at times by his lack of service while playing for Al-Nassr in the latter half of the 2022/23 season, despite scoring 14 goals in 16 Saudi Pro League games.

Ziyech to say goodbye to Chelsea

Ziyech has had a rocky spell with Chelsea since he arrived on a €40 million deal from Ajax in the summer of 2020.

Last term he made only 18 Premier League appearances, principally as a substitute, while over his three-year stay at the club he has featured 107 times in all competitions, returning 14 goals and 13 assists.

He was close to moving to PSG in January but the deal broke down over an administrative error at Chelsea’s end that soured their relationship further.

This transfer to Al-Nassr, where he will hook up with Ronaldo, is the outcome.