- Mohammed Kudus faces one of the fiercest receptions of his Premier League career as he returns to West Ham with Tottenham
- The Ghana international swapped east London for north London in a controversial £54.5 million transfer last summer
- Kudus remains unfazed, treating the clash with his former club as just another match, despite the tension and hostile atmosphere expected
Ghana international Mohammed Kudus endured a hostile reception from West Ham supporters as he faced his former club in Tottenham Hotspur colours at the London Stadium.
Kudus made the high-profile £54.5m switch across the capital during the summer, becoming the first player since Scott Parker in 2011 to move directly between the two rivals.
Source: Getty Images
Transfers between West Ham and Spurs have been rare over the years, with the rivalry not as fierce as the north London derby, but still carrying plenty of edge.
The winger, who cost Spurs a club-record fee, was named in Thomas Frank’s starting XI as the team looked to bounce back from a disappointing 1-0 defeat to Bournemouth in their previous Premier League outing.
From the first whistle, Kudus was targeted by the home crowd, drawing loud boos with every touch of the ball.
The reaction underlined the lingering bitterness among West Ham supporters, who had idolised the Ghanaian before his sudden switch to their London rivals.
Despite the hostile atmosphere, Kudus pressed on, determined to make his mark in Spurs colours as he adjusts to life at his new club.
Kudus’ Spurs move, sore point for Hammers
The 24-year-old attacker was a key figure for West Ham during his short stay, producing memorable performances in both the Premier League and Europe, including a dazzling solo strike against Freiburg in the Europa League.
Yet, the transfer saga that followed – with Mohammed Kudus allegedly arriving late to training sessions as rumours of Tottenham’s interest grew – soured his relationship with the fanbase.
For many West Ham supporters, selling a star player to a hated rival was unthinkable, and resentment still lingers. As such, the London Stadium is expected to be unforgiving when Kudus steps onto the pitch in Tottenham colours.
Despite the tension, Kudus himself appears unfazed. As cited by Hammers News, journalist Vaishali Bhardwaj revealed in a conversation ahead of the international break that the Ghanaian downplayed the significance of facing his former club.
Bhardwaj explained that when asked about the West Ham fixture, Kudus played down its importance, treating it as nothing more than a routine match.
That blunt admission suggests the Accra Nima-born footballer does not view West Ham with any lasting attachment, despite the role the club played in launching his Premier League career.
Kudus’ main weaknesses
Earlier, YEN.com.gh analysed two key flaws in Mohammed Kudus’s game despite his bright start in his first four outings for Tottenham Hotspur.
The ex-Ajax star has contributed two assists in his opening four matches, but he still has a long way to go to cement his place as a Spurs standout.
Source: YEN.com.gh
Source: Yen.com.gh
