Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus has endeared himself to West Ham fans since his move from Dutch giants Ajax Amsterdam, thanks to his thrilling unpredictability.
At the time of writing, Kudus has recorded a total of 39 club goals in 155 appearances across three clubs: Nordsjælland, Ajax, and West Ham.
The journey of Mohammed Kudus: How he launched his professional football career
Kudus was born in Nima, a suburb of Accra, Ghana's capital. The predominantly Muslim settlement might be poor in basic necessities.
It is a sharp contrast to a typical day in Ghana’s finest locations, requiring sheer determination to break from the shackles of a disadvantaged lifestyle. This is the starting point for one of Ghana’s emerging footballing talents tipped to etch his name in country’s football folklore.
The 24-year-old was raised in a devout religious home, and it is certain that his faith would have been relied on to carry through his testing childhood. But no matter what profession Kudus found himself in, he held only one true passion: football.
His talent was visible in his formative years. Little Kudus and his friends would gather on the grassless pitches to emulate the skills of the established footballers they watched on television. From rabona, backheels, elastico panenka, nutmegs to scooped passes. He always managed to replicate them either on the field or by playing keepy-uppy to and from school.
Kudus and his friends just enjoyed playing the game and were content with tips or being carried on shoulders as a reward for standout performance. That was about all the game had for them. It was during one of these days that his immense talent was spotted by a football enthusiast who facilitated his move to Strong Tower FC, an amateur club in Nima.
In one of Strong Tower FC's games, a scout from Right to Dream Academy, Ghana’s elite football academy, was scouting the area and noticed Kudus showcasing the best of his abilities. Impressed by what he was viewing, he signed him up for the club, citing the youngster’s immense perseverance and desire to keep the ball on the scorching surface.
The signing would now mean that Kudus would have the opening to show his skills on an actual football field with a moderately improved conditions and, more importantly, a chance to break into professional football.
Mohammed Kudus: His impact at Nordsjælland
In January 2018, Kudus joined Danish club Nordsjælland, making the move from the Ghanaian Right to Dream Academy alongside his two teammates, Ibrahim Sadiq and Gideon Mensah.
Adjusting to life away from his family in his new, unfamiliar surroundings did not come easily. While Kudus may have been the talk of the town in Nima and Old Akrade, at Nordsjælland he was one of many talented prospects scratching and clawing to make the first team. Instead of cowering, Kudus thrived, developing his creative majesty and tapping
into a mental fortitude that he didn’t know existed.
Throughout his two-year stay with Nordsjælland, the 24-year-old established a remorseless reputation in front of goal that earned him regular call-ups to Ghana's youth teams and the senior national team, the Black Stars.
With many of Europe's top clubs now on high alert, three would step to the forefront in the race for the youngster’s signature in the summer of 2020 but it was Dutch outfit Ajax Amsterdam that emerged victorious.
How Mohammed Kudus fared at Ajax
Making a debut appearance in the Dutch top tier league under the tutelage of Erik ten Haag, Kudus took no time in announcing his presence.
His three-year- stay at the Johan Cruyff Arena were rarely anything less than brilliant, as the little maestro would score 17 goals and dish out numerous assists, displaying all of the attributes that made him one of the best up-and-coming attacking midfielders in world football.
Two times a league winner, he would secure an additional one domestic cup, IFFHS CAF Youth Team of the Year: 2020, Men's CAF Team of the Year: 2022, and several Eredivisie Team of the Month appearances.
He won Ghana's Sports Personality of the Year on two occasions and several other Ghana accolades during his time with Ajax.
Mohammed Kudus at West Ham
On August 27, 2023, Mohammed Kudus signed a five-year contract with Premier League club West Ham United for an undisclosed fee, reportedly valued at €44.5 million (£38 million), inclusive of add-ons.
With this transfer, Kudus became the third Ghanaian player to represent West Ham, following in the footsteps of John Paintsil and André Ayew. Additionally, he is now the second most expensive Ghanaian footballer in history, surpassed only by Thomas Partey.
On March 14, 2024, Mohammed Kudus netted a goal hailed as a "goal of the season contender" by former West Ham midfielder Joe Cole. In a remarkable display of skill, Kudus collected the ball in his own half, deftly maneuvered past three defenders, and scored against goalkeeper Noah Atubolu, contributing to West Ham's 5–0 victory over German side SC Freiburg in the UEFA Europa League round of 16.
Following this, on March 30, Kudus scored during a 4–3 away loss to Newcastle United, making him the highest-scoring Ghanaian player in West Ham's history with 13 goals, surpassing André Ayew's previous record of 12. Kudus concluded his debut season as the Premier League's leader in successful dribbles, achieving an impressive total of 124.
Mohammed Kudus international career
Since 2019, Mohammed Kudus has been an integral member of the Ghana national team, contributing several goals to the squad. On November 14, 2021, he suffered a ruptured rib injury while representing the Black Stars in their final 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier against South Africa.
This injury sidelined him for nearly three months, causing him to miss the postponed 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, despite being included in the final squad.
Kudus made his return to the national team for the crucial World Cup qualification playoff against Nigeria, where he played in both matches, helping Ghana secure a spot in their fourth World Cup tournament.
In November 2022, Mohammed Kudus was selected for the 26-man Ghana squad to compete in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He made his World Cup debut in a closely contested match against Portugal, which resulted in a 3–2 defeat for Ghana.
However, Kudus quickly made his mark in the following match, scoring two goals in a dramatic 3–2 victory over South Korea, highlighting his emerging talent on the world.
Since his debut for the Ghana national team in 2019, Mohammed Kudus has made 36 appearances and scored 11 goals, establishing himself as a key contributor to the squad.
Mohammed Kudus salary and net worth
Mohammed Kudus has four years remaining on his contract with West Ham United, which runs until June 30, 2028. His gross salary over this period is £18,720,000, with a base salary of £4,680,000 for the 2024-2025 season, equating to £90,000 per week, exclusive of bonuses, as reported by Capology.
