Latest news with #Kudus
The Irish Sun
a day ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Reading 0 Tottenham 2: Frank makes ELEVEN changes at half-time of first match as new-boys Vuskovic and Kudus shine
NEW-BOYS Mohammed Kudus and Luka Vuskovic sparkled on debut to hand Thomas Frank a winning start to his Tottenham reign. 9 Tottenham got their pre-season preparations off to a winning start with a 2-0 victory over Reading Credit: Getty 9 New boss Thomas Frank tried out a new system as he made 11 changes at half time Credit: Reuters Kudus meanwhile, who joined last week from London rivals Both players looked very sharp - although the same could not be said for a rusty-looking Spurs played two different XIs for each half at a packed Select Car Leasing Stadium. READ MORE IN FOOTBALL The 3,021 Spurs fans who turned up instantly sang songs proclaiming their 'Champions of Europe' status following May's Europa League triumph. Chairman Daniel Levy, who controversially sacked the man who had delivered that trophy, Ange Postecoglou, and replaced him with Frank, watched on from the directors' box, deep in conversation with Spurs' technical director Johan Lange throughout. In truth, it was a dull first half that very much reflected its pre-season status, but there were a few hints of what Frank may bring to Tottenham from a tactical perspective. First of all, he went with two holding midfielders - something predecessor Postecoglou rarely did until the final stage of the Europa League. Most read in Football 9 Here's how Tottenham lined up in the first half 9 Luka Vuskovic netted on his debut for Spurs Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 9 Mohammed Kudus impressed on his first outing for the club Credit: Shutterstock Editorial CASINO SPECIAL - BEST CASINO BONUSES FROM £10 DEPOSITS While out of possession his formation looked to be a 4-4-2, similar to how his The only real chance of the first 45 came shortly before the break, when former Manchester United goalkeeper Joel Pereira beat away a powerful Pape Sarr shot from close range. Thomas Frank has held his first press conference as Tottenham manager - what did we learn? Pedro Porro was also on the receiving end of a very unfriendly tackle by Mark O'Mahony, who cleaned out the Spaniard after the Spurs man had knocked the ball past him. O'Mahony was booked and Frank gave his team-talk to the completely new side he put out for the second period on the pitch in a huddle at half-time. His line-up read: Vicario; Spence, Vuskovic, Van de Ven, Davies; Bergvall, Bissouma; Kudus, Donley, Son; Lankshear. Kudus and Vuskovic, who officially moved to the club this summer two years on from when his £12m switch from Hajduk Split had been agreed. The switches quickly had an impact with Frank's men going 2-0 up with nine minutes of the restart. Spurs' opener came from a set-piece, which must have pleased their new boss immensely given it is an area he is looking to improve. Academy product Lankshear got the finishing touch, but it was set up by two new-boys. Kudus fired in an outswinging corner which Vuskovic flicked on, allowing Lankshear to nod home. 9 Here's how Spurs looked for the second half 9 Will Lankshear finished off a move from Kudus and Vuskovic Credit: Getty Five minutes later, Kudus and Vuskovic linked up again with the man signed from West Ham for £55m laying the ball off for Vuskovic to steer beautifully into the corner. It was a brilliant finish from a centre-back, or any player, but then again Vuskovic has goals in his locker, having netted seven on loan in Belgium with Westerlo last season. The Croatia international then showed his defensive awareness with an important clearance to deny Andre Garcia's header. There has been a lot of scrutiny around the future of Son this summer and the South Korean struggled with his touch when coming on. There was a bit of crowd trouble between the two sets of fans up in the corner of the Sir John Madejski Stand in the final ten minutes of the game, with a few bottles thrown. But it did not take the shine off what was a good start for Frank - and for Kudus and Vuskovic in particular. 9 Spurs were impressive against League One Reading Credit: PA 9 New boss Frank will be pleased with how his first game in charge went Credit: Getty
Daily Tribune
12-07-2025
- Sport
- Daily Tribune
Spurs sign Kudus with Gibbs-White set to follow
Tottenham have signed Mohammed Kudus from West Ham and are set to capture Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White in a double swoop worth over £100 million ($136 million). Kudus became the first player since 2011 to make the move from the Hammers to rivals Spurs in a reported £55 million deal. Gibbs-White is set to follow as Spurs have activated the £60 million buyout clause in his Forest contract. The double signing marks the start of the Thomas Frank era at Tottenham after he replaced Ange Postecoglou last month, despite the Australian winning the Europa League to end a 17-year trophy drought for the club. Victory over Manchester United in the Bilbao final also secured Spurs direct entry to the Champions League. Kudus said the combination of playing in Europe's elite competition and Frank's track record of developing talent at Brentford were major factors in his decision to join. 'I have always wanted to play at the highest level,' the Ghanaian international said on the Tottenham website. 'How big the club is, the history, and (in) the Champions League as well, so it is a big moment. I am finally here and am very happy. I can't wait to start. 'The most important part of why I came here is the project and how the manager sees that I can develop under him. 'I have seen the amount of talent he has developed to become great players, and that is a big sign of why I wanted to work under him as well.' Kudus scored 19 goals in 80 appearances for West Ham since joining from Ajax for £38 million two years ago.
New Straits Times
11-07-2025
- Sport
- New Straits Times
Spurs sign forward Kudus from West Ham on long-term contract
LONDON: Tottenham Hotspur have signed forward Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United on a long-term contract, the North London club said late on Thursday. Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported the deal is worth around £55 million (RM315 million) for the Ghana international, who turns 25 next month. Spurs did not reveal the exact length of the contract but British media reported that Kudus had signed a six-year deal until 2031. "One of the most important parts of why I came here is the project and how the manager (Thomas Frank) sees it, and to develop under him," Kudus said in a statement. "With the history of where he's come from, I've seen the amount of talent he's developed to become great players. It's a big sign of why I wanted to work under him as well." Spurs appointed former Brentford boss Frank in June to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou. Kudus joined West Ham from Ajax Amsterdam in 2023 for around €40 million (RM199 million) and scored 13 goals and registered 12 assists across two league seasons with the club. Though he managed just five goals during West Ham's disappointing league campaign last season, his explosive energy and dribbling prowess could make him a valuable asset for Frank, who is expected to adopt the same counter-attacking system he used at Brentford. Kudus may have some fences to mend when he arrives in the Spurs dressing room. He received a five-match ban and a £60,000 fine for violent conduct after sparking a heated altercation between players during West Ham's game against Spurs last October. - REUTERS
Scottish Sun
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Scottish Sun
Tottenham's Mohammed Kudus grew up in one of Ghana's toughest neighbourhoods, barely spoke and played with broken thumb
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) MOHAMMED KUDUS didn't just dream of the Premier League, he dragged himself there. The man signed by Tottenham for £55million had to overcome pain, setbacks and the kind of adversity most can't even imagine. 10 Mohammed Kudus grew up in one of the toughest places in Accra to get to the Premier League Credit: GETTY 10 In left the £55m Tottenham star during his early days in football back in Ghana Credit: supplied 10 Kudus has beaten all the odds to get where he is Credit: Shutterstock Editorial Kudus grew up in Nima, one of the toughest neighbourhoods in Accra, Ghana. Tin-roofed homes built in the 1800s, markets that never sleep, and a crushing lack of opportunity - that was Kudus's reality. Pickpocketing and poverty surrounded him. Bashiru Mohammed Zakari is the vice chairman of Strong Towers, Kudus' first football club and told SunSport in an exclusive interview: 'For many kids from Nima, options are limited. 'Football has become an escape for most. When he (Kudus) came to us, he barely spoke. 'He'd spend hours with his mates and you wouldn't hear a word from him. But there was something different about him, quiet, yes. Timid? Not a chance.' He'd go to school in the morning, count down the hours and race off to Montreal Park - a rough patch of dust that's now gone, bulldozed to make way for the National Mosque in Accra. That park was where he put in the graft, that's where the hunger grew. BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK Zakari added: "I remember how we picked him up, like it was just yesterday. He got really lucky that we didn't have our own academy, so we organised games with Right to Dream Academy , and that's where they spotted him." At just 13, Kudus was snapped up by the Right to Dream Academy, but even there, things weren't smooth. Tottenham release new 'dark' away kit for 2025/26 season Mas-Ud Didi Dramani, the first coach who took him to Right to Dream exclusively told SunSport in an interview from his base in Accra: 'He was very shy. 'I think Kudus is a very determined footballer. We had him on our radar for a while, but it wasn't until we played against his local team that we decided to bring him in. 'He was only around 13 to 14 years old. Our role wasn't just to develop them as footballers but also to ensure they grew as better human beings. 'I remember when he first joined, like most teenagers, he was eager to impress. But one thing stood out for me. "It was when he broke his thumb and was in a cast, yet still worked with the group. 'I still recall those moments and how mentally tough and stable he was, playing with a cast on his hand.' At Right to Dream, his talent was obvious, but so was the confusion about where to actually play him. 10 One week he was box-to-box, the next drifting out wide. A jack-of-all-trades. It took time, patience and trust before he carved out his true identity. When FC Nordsjaelland, the Academy's sister club in Denmark, came calling, Kudus packed his bags and went. But the challenge wasn't just on the pitch. It was everything, from the cold weather and strange food to no friends and no family. Dramani says: 'I remember speaking to him and telling him that it's going to be tough before it gets better. 'But one thing I can say is to remember how far you've come, remember how you used to play with a broken thumb and when the manager gives you five minutes, show him you deserve ten. 'Then, when you have ten, work for 20. 'In Europe, you get what you work for and it worked, he was a sensation in Denmark, and it didn't take long before Ajax came calling.' 10 Kudus had a 20-goal contribution in his first season in the Premier League Credit: Getty 10 Tottenham will hope he can rediscover his best form from his West Ham days Credit: Shutterstock Editorial 10 He established himself as a rising star at Ajax Credit: Getty The move to Ajax brought him closer to his Premier League dream. But just as things looked up, they came crashing down again. In 2022, Everton came in with a serious offer. Kudus wanted it, the Premier League was right there for the taking and he was going to play under Frank Lampard but Ajax said no. Just like that, the deal was dead, worse, they froze him out of the team. Still, he didn't moan and didn't throw a tantrum. He just got on with it and later told Dutch outlet De Telegraaf: "The fact that Ajax blocked a transfer to Everton last time disappointed me. 'I thought it was time for a new chapter in my career because I wasn't playing here. But the moment the transfer window closed, my full focus shifted back to Ajax.' That is the kind of statement that defines Kudus, he believes life is like a bicycle and the only way to maintain balance is to keep peddling. So when the West Ham move came along he jumped on it and moved to East London. His first season was sensational, 14 goals across all competitions, 20-goal contributions, two bicycle kicks amongst them and that solo run and a brilliant finish against Frankfurt in Europe. But in the second season everything faded again - only five goals, a huge drop and even though he still attempted the most take-ons of any player in the league he was just not the same energetic all-action forward who would sit on the advertising board after a goal. But for a boy who grew up in the chaos of Nima, struggled in the Danish cold and fought his way back after heartbreak in Amsterdam, he believes a move to Spurs presents with him an opportunity and platform to showcase his absolute best. For Spurs - where Kudus could face an awkward first meeting - they're getting a player who is an absolute game changer, an edge of your seat player who can be world class in the right environment and has a dynamite shot. Kudus has come a long way - and now presented with the opportunity to showcase his talent in the Champions League - he can go even further. 10 Kudus was sent off against his new employers last season Credit: PA 10 Kudus endured a difficult season last time out Credit: Rex
Dubai Eye
11-07-2025
- Sport
- Dubai Eye
Spurs sign Mohammed Kudus, Morgan Gibbs-White eyed next
Tottenham Hotspur have signed forward Mohammed Kudus from West Ham United on a long-term contract, the North London club said late Thursday. Financial details of the transfer were not disclosed but British media reported the deal is worth around 55 million pounds ($74.59 million) for the Ghana international, who turns 25 next month. Spurs did not reveal the exact length of the contract but British media reported that Kudus had signed a six-year deal until 2031. "One of the most important parts of why I came here is the project and how the manager (Thomas Frank) sees it, and to develop under him," Kudus said in a statement. "With the history of where he's come from, I've seen the amount of talent he's developed to become great players. It's a big sign of why I wanted to work under him as well." Spurs appointed former Brentford boss Frank in June to replace the sacked Ange Postecoglou. Kudus joined West Ham from Ajax Amsterdam in 2023 for around 40 million euros ($46.70 million) and scored 13 goals and registered 12 assists across two league seasons with the club. Though he managed just five goals during West Ham's disappointing league campaign last season, his explosive energy and dribbling prowess could make him a valuable asset for Frank, who is expected to adopt the same counter-attacking system he used at Brentford. Kudus may have some fences to mend when he arrives in the Spurs dressing room. He received a five-match ban and a 60,000 pounds fine for violent conduct after sparking a heated altercation between players during West Ham's game against Spurs last October. Spurs caught many rivals off guard with their decisiveness and speed of the Mohammed Kudus signing. The London club followed up their signing of Kudus by triggering the $80 million release clause for Nottingham Forest's Morgan Gibbs-White. The England international has been given permission to undergo a medical at Spurs where it's expected he will be revealed as a new signing by the weekend.
