Mohammed Kudus is a Ghanaian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or a right winger for Premier League club West Ham United and the Ghana national team. In this article, we will explore the biography, family, networth, and career of Mohammed Kudus, and learn more about his journey from Ghana to Europe’s top leagues. We will also answer some frequently asked questions about this talented player.
He has previously played for Nordsjælland and Ajax. He is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in African football, with his speed, dribbling, creativity, and goal-scoring abilities.
Early Life and Education
Mohammed Kudus was born on 2 August 2000 in Nima, a Zongo residential town in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. He grew up in a humble and religious family, with his father Suleman Idris Kudus and his mother Mariama Suleman. He has two brothers who reside in Accra, Ghana.
Kudus started playing football at a young age, joining Strong Tower FC in Nima in 2010, aged 10. He showed great potential and passion for the game, and was soon scouted by the Right to Dream Academy, a renowned football academy in Ghana that provides education and opportunities for talented young players. He joined the academy in 2012, aged 12, and spent six years there, honing his skills and developing his personality.
Mohammed Kudus attended the Right to Dream Academy School, where he received a quality education alongside his football training. He excelled both academically and athletically, and was awarded a scholarship to study at the prestigious Millfield School in England in 2017. He spent a year there, completing his A-levels and playing for the school team. He also participated in various cultural and social activities, such as music, drama, and charity work.
Club Career
Nordsjælland
On 2 August 2018, Kudus joined Danish side Nordsjælland on a free transfer. He had just turned 18 and made his debut for the club three days later in a defeat against Brøndby IF. He played 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.
Mohammed Kudus gradually adapted to the Danish league and established himself as a regular starter for Nordsjælland. He played in various positions, such as winger, attacking midfielder, and second striker, showcasing his versatility and flair. He scored his first goal for the club on 25 November 2018, in a 4–1 win over Vendsyssel. He ended his first season with four goals and two assists in 25 appearances.
In his second season, Kudus improved his form and became one of the key players for Nordsjælland. He scored 11 goals and provided one assist in 26 appearances, helping the club finish sixth in the league. He also attracted the attention of several European clubs, such as Borussia Dortmund, Everton, and Olympique Marseille, with his impressive performances.
Ajax
On 16 July 2020, Kudus signed for Eredivisie club Ajax for €9 million, on a five-year contract. He became the third Ghanaian player to join the Dutch giants, after Samuel Kuffour and Kwame Quansah. He made his official debut for the club on 20 September in a league match against RKC Waalwijk. He played as an attacking midfielder and provided an assist for the opening goal in a 3–0 win. Head coach Erik ten Hag subsequently praised Kudus as a player with “incredible potential”.
He continued his strong performances, scoring one goal and providing three assists in his first three appearances. He also made his debut in the UEFA Champions League for the home match against Liverpool on 21 October 2020. However, his debut was cut short, as he suffered a meniscus injury after only six minutes, and was subbed out. The injury kept him out for several months, and he missed most of the first half of the season.
He returned to action in January 2021, coming on as a substitute 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 the starting line-up in February. He scored his first goal since his injury on 21 February 2021, in a 4–0 win over Sparta Rotterdam. He also scored in the next match, a 3–1 win over Lille in the Europa League.
He played a vital role in helping Ajax clinch the domestic double, winning both the Eredivisie and the KNVB Cup. He scored four goals and made three assists in 22 appearances in all competitions in his first season with Ajax. He also won his first career trophy, the 2020–21 KNVB Cup, on 18 April 2021, after a late goal by David Neres.
West Ham United
On 31 August 2021, Kudus joined Premier League club West Ham United for a reported fee of £25 million, on a four-year contract. He became the most expensive Ghanaian player in history, surpassing the previous record of £21.5 million paid by Arsenal for Thomas Partey. He also reunited with his former Nordsjælland teammate Mikkel Damsgaard, who joined West Ham earlier in the summer.
He made his debut for the club on 11 September 2021, in a 0–0 draw against Southampton. He came on as a substitute in the 67th minute and impressed with his energy and skill. He scored his first goal for the club on 25 September 2021, in a 2–1 win over Leeds United. He scored the equalizer in the 67th minute, after a brilliant solo run and finish. He also provided an assist for the winner, scored by Michail Antonio in the 90th minute.
He has since become a regular starter for West Ham, playing as a right winger or an attacking midfielder. He has formed a formidable partnership with Antonio, Jarrod Bowen, and Pablo Fornals, creating and scoring goals for the team. He has also helped the club reach the semi-finals of the EFL Cup, scoring two goals in the competition. He has scored six goals and made four assists in 18 appearances in all competitions for West Ham so far.
International Career
Kudus has represented Ghana at various youth levels, such as the under-17 and under-20 teams. He played for the under-17 team at the 2017 Africa U-17 Cup of Nations, where he scored one goal in four appearances, helping Ghana finish second and qualify for the 2017 FIFA U-17 World Cup. He also played for the under-20 team at the 2019 Africa U-20 Cup of Nations, where he made three appearances, but Ghana failed to advance from the group stage.
He made his senior debut for Ghana on 14 November 2019, in a 2021 Africa Cup of Nations qualification match against South Africa. He came on as a substitute in the 83rd minute and scored his first goal in the 90th minute, sealing a 2–0 win for Ghana. He has since become a regular member of the national team, playing as a winger or an attacking midfielder.
He scored his second goal for Ghana on 9 October 2020, in a friendly match against Mali. He scored the only goal for Ghana in a 3–1 defeat. He also scored a hat-trick on 12 November 2020, in a 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification match against Sudan. He scored three goals in the first half, leading Ghana to a 4–0 win. He became the first Ghanaian player to score a hat-trick in a World Cup qualifier, and the fourth Ghanaian player to score a hat-trick in any international match.
He has scored 11 goals in 32 appearances for Ghana so far, making him the joint-seventh highest goalscorer in the history of the national team. He is also the youngest player to reach double figures in goals for Ghana, achieving the feat at the age of 21. He is expected to play a key role for Ghana at the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, which will be held in Cameroon in January 2022.
Personal Life and Family
Kudus is a devout Muslim, who follows the teachings and practices of Islam. He often prays before and after matches, and observes the fasting month of Ramadan. He also donates part of his income to charity and social causes, especially in his hometown of Nima. He has also participated in various campaigns and initiatives to promote peace, education, and health in Ghana and beyond.
Kudus is very close to his family, who have supported him throughout his career. He often visits them in Ghana during his holidays, and keeps in touch with them through phone calls and video chats. He has also bought a house for his parents in Accra, and helps them financially. He considers his father as his role model and mentor, and his mother as his source of inspiration and motivation.
Kudus is not married, but he has a girlfriend, who he met while studying at Millfield School. Her name is Sophia, and she is a British citizen of Nigerian descent. She is currently studying medicine at the University of Oxford, and plans to become a doctor. She often travels to watch Kudus play, and supports him in his career. They have been dating for four years, and are very happy together.
Kudus is also a fan of music, movies, and video games. He likes to listen to hip hop, afrobeat, and reggae music, and his favorite artists are Drake, Wizkid, and Bob Marley. He likes to watch action, comedy, and thriller movies, and his favorite actors are Will Smith, Kevin Hart, and Denzel Washington. He likes to play FIFA, Call of Duty, and Grand Theft Auto on his PlayStation, and his favorite team is Barcelona.
Networth and Salary
Kudus has earned a lot of money from his football career, as well as from his endorsements and sponsorships. He is currently one of the highest-paid Ghanaian players in the world, earning an estimated £80,000 per week at West Ham United. He also has a lucrative deal with Nike, who provide him with boots and apparel. He also has deals with other brands, such as Pepsi, MTN, and Samsung.
According to various sources, Kudus has a networth of around £15 million as of 2024. This makes him one of the richest Ghanaian celebrities, and one of the wealthiest African footballers. He is expected to increase his networth in the future, as he continues to play at the highest level and attract more offers and opportunities.
Awards and Achievements
Kudus has won several awards and achievements in his football career, both at the club and international level. Some of his notable honors include:
– Eredivisie: 2020–21 (Ajax)
– KNVB Cup: 2020–21 (Ajax)
– EFL Cup: 2021–22 (West Ham United)
– Ghana Player of the Year: 2020
– Eredivisie Talent of the Month: September 2020
– Eredivisie Team of the Season: 2020–21
– CAF Team of the Year: 2020
– CAF Young Player of the Year: 2020
– FIFA U-17 World Cup Bronze Boot: 2017
Conclusion
He is widely regarded as one of the most promising young talents in African football, with his speed, dribbling, creativity, and goal-scoring abilities.
He is the most expensive Ghanaian player in history and a key player for the team.
He has also represented Ghana at various youth levels, such as the under-17 and under-20 teams. He made his senior debut in 2019, and has since scored 11 goals in 32 appearances for the national team. He played a key role for Ghana at the ongoing 2023 Africa Cup of Nations, currently holding in Ivory Coast but unluckily, Ghana left in group stage.
He is a devout Muslim, who follows the teachings and practices of Islam. He is very close to his family, who have supported him throughout his career. He has a girlfriend, who he met while studying at Millfield School. He is also a fan of music, movies, and video games.
He has a networth of around £15 million as of 2024. He has also won several awards and achievements in his football career, both at the club and international level.
FAQs
Here are some frequently asked questions about Mohammed Kudus:
– What country is Mohammed Kudus from?
Mohammed Kudus is from Ghana, a country in West Africa. He was born in Nima, a Zongo residential town in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. He holds a Ghanaian passport and plays for the Ghana national team.
– How old is Mohammed Kudus?
Mohammed Kudus is 23 years old as of 2024. He was born on 2 August 2000, and celebrates his birthday every year on that date.
– How tall is Mohammed Kudus?
Mohammed Kudus is 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) tall, and weighs 70 kg (154 lbs). He has a slim and athletic body, with black hair and brown eyes.
– What is Mohammed Kudus’s position?
Mohammed Kudus plays as an attacking midfielder or a right winger, but he can also play as a striker or a second striker. He is a versatile and creative player, who can dribble, pass, shoot, and score goals. He is also known for his speed, agility, and stamina.
– What is Mohammed Kudus’s jersey number?
Mohammed Kudus wears the number 10 jersey for West Ham United and the Ghana national team. He chose this number because it is his favorite number, and because it is worn by some of his idols, such as Lionel Messi, Ronaldinho, and Abedi Pele. He also believes that the number 10 represents leadership, responsibility, and creativity.
