Wydad Casablanca have confirmed that Hakim Ziyech's contract has been terminated by mutual consent, ending what proved to be a brief and turbulent stay for the Moroccan international at the Casablanca club.

The announcement came via an official statement published on the club's social media channels on Sunday, with Wydad striking a wistful tone as they bid farewell to a player who had arrived amid considerable fanfare.

"Sometimes, some stories are shorter than we wished, but they leave an unforgettable mark," Wydad said in their statement.

The club acknowledged that Ziyech's spell fell short of initial expectations, yet insisted that pulling on the Wydad jersey remained a meaningful chapter for the 33-year-old. "Your experience may not have lasted as long as we had hoped, but wearing the Wydad jersey will always remain a special moment," the statement read.

Wydad were at pains to emphasise that a player's legacy is not defined purely by the length of his stay. "From the Wydad Nation, we thank you for every moment you carried the club's jersey and wish you every success in the next chapter of your career, both on and off the pitch," the club added, closing with: "Some journeys may come to an end, but Wydad remains in the heart."

A spell derailed by off-pitch tension

Behind the warm send-off lay a difficult period of deteriorating relations between Ziyech and the club's new management. At the heart of the dispute was a disagreement over his salary, with Wydad seeking a reduction to his existing contract — a position Ziyech refused to accept.

The tension spilled into the open when Ziyech was omitted from a match against Renaissance Zemamra and subsequently left out of the club's training camp in Agadir. He was reportedly ordered to train in isolation at the Mohamed Benjelloun complex, a move that underlined how far relations had broken down.

In a striking escalation, Ziyech brought a bailiff to the training facility to formally document his circumstances, with reports at the time suggesting the dispute could be referred to football's governing authorities. Ultimately, both parties pulled back from a prolonged legal confrontation and reached the mutual agreement announced on Sunday.

Ziyech is now a free agent, able to assess his options as he plots the next step in his career.