Mohammed Kudus has officially joined West Ham United from Ajax, marking a significant signing for the club.
The transfer was finalized over the weekend as West Ham successfully negotiated with Ajax for the acquisition of the Ghanaian international. The agreed-upon fee for the transfer amounts to £38 million, inclusive of various performance-related add-ons.
The transaction involves an initial payment of €41.5 million, along with an additional €3 million contingent upon the player’s performance.
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Kudus, a skilled midfielder, has committed to a five-year contract with West Ham, and the agreement also includes the option to extend for an additional 12 months. The player successfully underwent a medical examination over the past weekend, solidifying the completion of the transfer process.
Notably, even with a last-minute bid from an undisclosed Premier League club on Saturday, Kudus remained steadfast in his decision to join West Ham United.
“I’ve been dreaming to play in a league like this since I was a kid,” said Kudus, who will wear the No 14 shirt at West Ham.
“I’ve been dreaming of this moment and I’m so happy to be here. But it doesn’t stop here, I want to keep going.
I try my best to entertain the fans as I think that’s what football is all about. I’m just here to do my best and help the team. I’m really happy to be here. I will fight for the badge. I can’t wait to get started.”
Following his successful medical evaluation over the weekend, Kudus becomes the second player to transition from Amsterdam to the eastern boroughs of London, a journey already undertaken by Edson Alvarez, who similarly joined for a commensurate fee.
The versatile attacking midfielder, adept at contributing across the forward positions, has formally committed to a five-year contract, accompanied by an extension option for an additional season.
This recent addition reflects David Moyes’ continued investment during the summer transfer window following the lucrative £105 million transfer of Declan Rice to Arsenal, apprehensions arose regarding West Ham’s preparedness for the impending Premier League season.
The burgeoning talent, widely regarded as one of Europe’s foremost prospects, solidified this reputation with an outstanding performance during his tenure at Ajax last season.
David Moyes expressed his anticipation for collaborating with Kudus, saying: “I’m delighted we’ve been able to bring Mohammed to West Ham United.”
“He’s a terrific young talent, who has already shone at the very highest level for Ajax in the Champions League and made well over 150 senior appearances at the age of 23 – so it was no surprise to see so many top clubs chasing his signature this summer.
“The fact we’ve been able to attract a player of his undoubted quality to London Stadium shows the pull West Ham have now – the board and Tim [Steidten, West Ham’s technical director] deserve huge credit for getting this one over the line.”
In a remarkable breakout year, he notched 18 goals and provided 7 assists across various competitions. Moreover, he commenced the current season in a similarly impressive manner.
In a triumphant display last Thursday, Kudus registered a remarkable hat-trick during Ajax’s Europa League play-off victory over Ludogorets, a fitting farewell to his tenure with the club.
West Ham can rightfully consider this acquisition as a significant achievement, given the substantial interest that surrounded Kudus’ availability.
At a certain juncture during the summer, Chelsea had displayed interest, and Brighton had managed to come to terms with Ajax regarding a transfer fee. However, they were unable to reach an accord with the player concerning personal conditions.
In addition to Ward-Prowse, Alvarez, and Kudus, the acquisition of Konstantinos Mavropanos has also been finalized. These signings have been made possible by Moyes’ utilization of the funds obtained from the sale of Rice.
