Mohammed Kudus has revealed how he experienced a “big difference in culture” when he moved to Europe as a teenager – and explained how his subsequent arrival in the Premier League represented another big step on his footballing journey.
The exciting forward joined us this week after two action-packed years at West Ham United.
But his story began considerably earlier.
Born in Nima, Ghana, he spent his formative years with Strong Tower FC and the Right to Dream Academy before making the decision to come to Europe when he was only 17.
He joined Nordsjaelland in Denmark and after impressing there, he switched to Dutch giants Ajax in 2020. That’s where the attacker really caught the eye, helping his side win two Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup with some impactful displays which ultimately led to his first Premier League opportunity with the Hammers in 2023.
“It was a very big difference in culture,” explained the now 24-year-old this week, reflecting on his initial decision to leave home as a youngster.
“I moved to Denmark, played there two seasons, went to Amsterdam, two-and-a-half seasons, West Ham, then here and it’s basically like chasing my dream of wanting to become a professional footballer and using my God-given talent to have an impact on where I’m coming from and change the lives of people in my family as well.
“That’s what the journey has been and I’m still moving on with Tottenham now.”
The forward notched up 13 goals and 12 assists in 65 Premier League games for West Ham during his two seasons at the London Stadium.
He explained what he discovered about the division when he first arrived in England.
“It’s very demanding – it takes a lot of hard work and 24/7 focus to play in a league like this,” he said. “Every game is tough so you need the same focus whoever you are playing. Top of the league or bottom of the league, you require the same amount of focus and effort to win the game. There’s no easy games here, regardless of where the opposition is at. There’s no time to relax which makes every game competitive, interesting and that’s what I love about the league and why I am here. We want to enjoy every game, have the atmosphere and get the fans off their seats as well.”