Meet Hakim Ziyech’s Siblings: Faouzi Ziyech, Hicham Ziyech, Essam Ziyech, & Abdullah Ziyech

Hakim Ziyech, born on March 19, 1993, in Dronten, Netherlands, is a Moroccan professional footballer celebrated for his creativity, vision, superb dribbling, and powerful long-range shooting.

He is 32 years old and plays for Wydad AC, following high-profile spells at Ajax and Chelsea.

He grew up in a large Moroccan immigrant family originally from the Riffian/Berber region of northern Morocco, near Tafoughalt and Berkane. His father moved to the Netherlands in 1967, working in a metal factory, while his mother later joined to raise the family.

Ziyech was the youngest of eight or nine children (reports vary), and football was a shared passion among his siblings.

A turning point in his life came in 2003 when his father passed away from illness, leaving him without a paternal presence at the age of 10. The loss deeply affected him, but also strengthened his focus on football as an escape and a way forward.

He spent countless hours playing on local Cruyff Courts with friends and family, and developed rapidly in youth teams including Reaal Dronten and ASV Dronten, mentored in part by former Moroccan international Aziz Doufikar. By age 16, he left high school to pursue football full-time.

Ziyech holds dual Dutch-Moroccan nationality, is of Berber (Riffian) ethnicity, and is a practicing Muslim. The names of his parents remain largely private; his father is sometimes referenced in the media as Mohamed Ziyech, though not officially confirmed.

Several of his brothers displayed football ability in their youth but did not succeed professionally, and occasional family disputes have surfaced in public, particularly involving his brother Faouzi. Another brother, Essam, was known to have passed away in recent years.

Despite his fame, Ziyech keeps his personal life extremely private. He is unmarried, has no confirmed children, and does not have any publicly acknowledged relationships. He is listed at approximately 1.80–1.81 meters (5 feet 11 inches) tall.

Rising from a difficult childhood marked by loss and limited opportunities, Ziyech worked his way from Dutch amateur pitches to global stages. His journey through clubs such as Ajax and Chelsea, combined with his impact on the Moroccan national team, has made him one of the most admired footballers of his generation, recognized both in Europe and across the Arab and African football world.

Faouzi Ziyech

Faouzi Ziyech is one of Hakim‘s older brothers and has been publicly mentioned as playing a significant role in the family. Born in Morocco before the family moved to the Netherlands, Faouzi, along with another brother, showed early football talent and was enrolled in youth academies.

However, legal issues, including convictions for burglary, ended the promising football paths of both brothers. Faouzi has spoken openly about how Hakim became the “last hope” for the family in achieving success through football.

In recent years, tensions have surfaced publicly, with Faouzi criticizing Hakim on social media, including calling certain family moments “hypocritical” amid ongoing sibling disputes.

Hicham Ziyech

Hicham Ziyech is another older brother of Hakim, also born in Morocco and part of the initial migration to the Netherlands with their father in 1967.

Like Faouzi, Hicham pursued football in his youth, joining academies such as those at PEC Zwolle or Heerenveen. Unfortunately, similar challenges, including legal troubles related to burglary, derailed his career, leading to an early retirement from the sport.

Details about Hicham‘s current life remain private, but he is often grouped with Faouzi in accounts of the family’s early football aspirations and setbacks.

Essam Ziyech

Essam Ziyech was the eldest brother in the Ziyech family. Described as more discreet compared to Hakim‘s public profile, Essam shared a passion for football and was recognized locally as a talented player in his region.

Tragically, Essam passed away on December 23, 2025, prompting Hakim to share his grief publicly on social media with traditional Islamic phrases of mourning.

A prayer service was held in Dronten, the family’s longtime home. Essam‘s death has been a significant personal loss for Hakim during a challenging period in his career.

Abdullah Ziyech

Abdullah Ziyech is one of Hakim‘s brothers, though less information is publicly available about him compared to the others. He has occasionally appeared in media related to Hakim‘s career moves, such as posting hints on social media about potential transfers (for example, expressing enthusiasm for a possible return to Ajax).

Like the rest of the siblings, Abdullah is part of the large Ziyech family that supported Hakim through his rise, but he maintains a low profile away from the football spotlight.

The Ziyech family story is one of resilience, with Hakim often crediting his upbringing and his siblings’ challenges as the motivation for his success. While football brought early dreams and disappointments to the brothers, Hakim‘s achievements have made him a source of pride for Morocco and the diaspora community.