Mohammed Kudus

Mohammed Kudus (born 2 August 2000) is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder for Eredivisie club Ajax and the Ghana national team.

Mohammed Kudus
Personal information
Full name Mohammed Kudus[1]
Date of birth (2000-08-02) 2 August 2000[1]
Place of birth Nima, Ghana
Height 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Ajax
Number 20
Youth career
Strong Tower FC
2010–2018 Right to Dream
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2018–2020 Nordsjælland 51 (14)
2020– Ajax 61 (16)
International career‡
2017 Ghana U17 4 (1)
2018–2019 Ghana U20 3 (0)
2019– Ghana 23 (7)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:53, 16 May 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 23:13, 27 March 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Nordsjælland

Kudus arrived at Danish club Nordsjælland from the Ghanaian Right to Dream Academy, which he joined at the age of 10, in January 2018 together with two teammates, Ibrahim Sadiq and Gideon Mensah.[2]

Kudus made his official debut for Nordsjælland only three days after his 18th birthday, in a 2–0 defeat against Brøndby IF. He played from the first minute as a striker, but was replaced in the half-time. With his debut, he became the ninth youngest to make his debut in the history of the club.[3]

2020–21 season

On 16 July 2020, Kudus signed for Eredivisie club Ajax for €9 million, on a five-year contract. He made his official debut for the club on 20 September in a league match against RKC Waalwijk. Head coach Erik ten Hag subsequently called Kudus as a player with "incredible potential".[4][5] He continued his strong performances, scoring one goal and providing three assists in his first three appearances.[6] His debut in the UEFA Champions League for the home match against Liverpool on 21 October 2020, however, it was unfortunate. Kudus was subbed out after only six minutes, as he suffered a meniscus injury,[7] keeping him out for several months.[8] He returned back from injury in January 2021, coming on in the late minute to play 10 minutes in a 2–2 draw against PSV. He suffered a setback in his recovery and missed the rest of the matches in January before returning to action in February.[9] On 21 February 2021, returned to Ajax’s starting eleven for the first time since October 2020, and scored a goal in the 50th minute of Ajax's 4–0 win over Sparta Rotterdam.[10][11]

After returning from injury, he played in 13 of Ajax's final 14 league games, as well as 31 minutes of their KNVB Cup semi-final match against Heerenveen as Ajax clinched the domestic double at the end of his first season.[12][13] He won his first career trophy the 2020–21 KNVB Cup with Ajax on 18 April 2021 after a late 91st minute of additional time goal by David Neres.[14] At the end of the season, Kudus made 22 appearances in all competitions for Ajax scored four goals and made three assists.[9]

2021–22 season

On 25 July 2021, Ajax announced during pre-season that Kudus had suffered an ankle injury and was training separately from the rest of the team ahead of the 2021–22 season.[15] He made his return from injury on 21 September, coming on at half-time to score the fourth goal of Ajax's 5–0 triumph over Fortuna Sittard.[16][17] Kudus suffered an injury while playing for Ghana in November 2021, sidelining him for three months.[18] His first match back from injury was on 14 February 2022 against FC Twente, where he replaced Steven Berghuis for the final four minutes of their 5–0 victory.[19]

Whilst fully recovering from his injures and being restricted by playing time, Kudus played four matches and scored four goals for Jong Ajax in the Eerste Divisie, including scoring a hat-trick against ADO Den Haag.[20]

On 17 April, he came on in the 86th minute for Davy Klaassen in the 2022 KNVB Cup final, which Ajax lost 2–1 to fierce rivals PSV.[21][22] Subsequent to his return, he played in 11 out of 13 league matches, but only started in two of them as Ajax won the 2021–22 Eredivisie.

2022–23 season

On 7 September 2022, he scored his first Champions League goal in a 4–0 win over Rangers.[23]

On 19 February 2023, Kudus scored from a free-kick in the 84th minute of a league match against Sparta Rotterdam to earn Ajax a 4–0 victory. After scoring his goal, he paid tribute to fellow Ghanaian footballer, Christian Atsu, who died in the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake. He ran to the sideline and removed his Ajax shirt to display a white shirt underneath that read, "RIP Atsu."[24]

International career

Since 2019, he has been a part of the Ghana national team and scored several goals. On 14 November 2021, Kudus sustained a ruptured rip injury whilst playing for the Black Stars in their final 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifier Group match against South Africa.[25] This injury kept him out for almost three months including missing the delayed 2021 African Cup of Nations despite being named in the final squad list for the competition.[26][27] Kudus made a return into the squad to play for Ghana in their final 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification playoff against Nigeria.[28] He played in both matches as Ghana qualified for their fourth world cup.[29][30]

His biggest moment came in the 2022 FIFA World Cup match against South Korea, where he scored 2 goals, cementing a 3–2 win over the opposing team.[31][32]

Personal life

Kudus is an ethnic Hausa and is a Muslim.[33]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 16 May 2023[34]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[lower-alpha 1] Europe Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Nordsjælland 2018–19 Danish Superliga 263202[lower-alpha 2]0–303
2019–20 Danish Superliga 251120––2711
Total 51144020–5714
Ajax 2020–21 Eredivisie 174104[lower-alpha 3]0–224
2021–22 Eredivisie 161202[lower-alpha 4]000201
2022–23 Eredivisie 2811318[lower-alpha 5]51[lower-alpha 6]14018
Total 611661145118223
Career total 112301011651113937
  1. Includes Danish Cup, KNVB Cup
  2. Appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. One appearance in UEFA Champions League, three appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  5. Six appearances and four goals in UEFA Champions League, two appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  6. Appearance in Johan Cruyff Shield

International
As of match played 27 March 2023[35]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Ghana 201921
202182
2022114
202320
Total237
Scores and results list Ghana's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Kudus goal.[35]
List of international goals scored by Mohammed Kudus
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
114 November 2019Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana South Africa2–02–02021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
225 March 2021FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa South Africa1–01–12021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
39 October 2021Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana Zimbabwe1–03–12022 FIFA World Cup qualification
41 June 2022Cape Coast Sports Stadium, Cape Coast, Ghana Madagascar1–03–02023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
55 June 2022Estádio 11 de Novembro, Luanda, Angola Central African Republic1–01–12023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification
628 November 2022Education City Stadium, Al Rayyan, Qatar South Korea2–03–22022 FIFA World Cup
73–2

Honours

Ajax[36]

Individual

References
  1. "FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022: List of players: Ghana" (PDF). FIFA. 15 November 2022. p. 14. Retrieved 22 November 2022.
  2. U17-landsholdsspillere på vej, sn.dk, 10 December 2017
  3. "FC Nordsjælland, yngste-ældste-spillere". bold.dk. 2 October 2018.
  4. "Ten Hag vol vertrouwen over Ajax-aanwinst: 'Je ziet zijn ongelofelijke potentie'". voetbalprimeur.nl (in Dutch). 29 August 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  5. "Mohammed Kudus: Ajax Amsterdam announce deal for Ghana prodigy". Goal. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  6. "Mohammed Kudus: Ajax Amsterdam announce deal for Ghana prodigy". Goal. Retrieved 16 July 2020.
  7. "Update injury Mohammed Kudus". Ajax. 22 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  8. Inan, Johan (22 October 2020). "Grote aderlating voor Ajax: smaakmaker Kudus maanden uit roulatie". Algemeen Dagblad (in Dutch). Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  9. Teye, Prince Narkortu (6 July 2021). "Kudus: Ghana and Ajax midfielder opens up over Liverpool injury". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  10. Teye, Prince Narkortu (22 February 2021). "Kudus scores on Ajax return as Haller registers double against Sparta Rotterdam". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  11. Osei, Bernard (22 February 2021). "Mohammed Kudus returns from injury with a delightful goal [WATCH]". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  12. Osei, Bernard (18 April 2021). "Kudus Mohammed wins first trophy with Ajax Amsterdam". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  13. Teye, Prince Narkortu (3 May 2021). "Mohammed Kudus: Ghana star reacts to winning Dutch double with Ajax". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  14. Teye, Prince Narkortu (18 April 2021). "Mohammed Kudus: Ghana star wins first career title at Ajax". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  15. "Mohammed Kudus has ankle injury – Ajax reveal". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  16. Teye, Prince Narkortu (21 September 2021). "Kudus: Ghana star makes Ajax injury return in scoring fashion". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  17. "Ghana star Mohammed Kudus scores on injury return in Ajax win". GhanaSoccernet. 21 September 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  18. "Ghana ace Mohammed Kudus finally breaks silence on 'weird injury' against South Africa". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  19. Appiah, Samuel Ekow Amoasi (14 February 2022). "Kudus Mohammed make injury return in Ajax win over FC Twente". Modern Ghana. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  20. Osei, Bernard (8 March 2022). "Mohammed Kudus bags hat-trick for Jong Ajax win". Citi Sports Online. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  21. Teye, Prince Narkortu (17 April 2022). "Kudus and Haller leave Dutch Cup final crestfallen as Ajax bow to PSV Eindhoven". Goal. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  22. "Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus cameos as Ajax lose to PSV in Dutch Cup final". GhanaSoccernet. 17 April 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  23. "Ajax 4–0 Rangers". BBC Sport. 7 September 2022.
  24. "Mohammed Kudus pays tribute to Christian Atsu after Ajax goal – video". the Guardian. 19 February 2023. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  25. "Mohammed Kudus suffers injury in South Africa clash". GhanaWeb. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  26. "Kudus at risk of missing AFCON after Ajax coach confirms midfielder is out for rest of year due to injury - MyJoyOnline.com". www.myjoyonline.com. 22 November 2021. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  27. Mumin, Lukman Abdul (22 November 2021). "Ghana ace Mohammed Kudus finally breaks silence on 'weird injury' against South Africa". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  28. "Ghana vs Nigeria: Mohammed Kudus headlines returnees for Black Stars in squad for 2022 World Cup playoff". GhanaSoccernet. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  29. "Thomas Partey's strike sends Ghana to 2022 Qatar World Cup after away goals win over Nigeria". Euro Sport. 29 March 2022. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  30. Okeleji, Oluwashina (29 March 2022). "Ghana head to Qatar after draw with Nigeria". BBC Sport. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  31. "South Korea vs. Ghana final score, result: Mohammed Kudus double gives Black Stars victory in World Cup thriller". www.sportingnews.com. Retrieved 28 November 2022.
  32. Hopkins, Oliver (28 November 2022). "South Korea 2-3 Ghana: Kudus Shines in Yet Another Thriller". The Analyst. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  33. "The moving life story of Ajax sensation Mohammed Kudus: 'My mother risked her life for me'". GhanaSoccernet. 21 October 2020.
  34. "Mohammed Kudus". Soccerway. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
  35. "Mohammed Kudus". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  36. "Mohammed Kudus - Career Honours". Soccerway.
  37. "Mohammed Kudus is U21 Player of the Month". Eredivisie. 21 May 2021. Retrieved 2 October 2021.
  38. Neequaye, Bernard (30 January 2023). "Mohammed Kudus tops all at 47th SWAG Awards". Graphic Online. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  39. "SWAG Awards: Ajax star Mohammed Kudus adjudged Foreign Footballer of the Year". GhanaSoccernet. 17 December 2021. Retrieved 15 August 2022.
  40. Lawrence, Kweku (29 January 2023). "Mohammed Kudus wins big at 47th SWAG Awards gala". My Joy Online. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  41. "IFFHS MEN'S CONTINENTAL TEAMS 2022 - CAF". IFFHS. 16 January 2023. Retrieved 18 January 2023.
  42. "CAF Youth Team of the Year (U20) 2020 by IFFHS". IFFHS. 13 March 2021. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
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