Kudus, relatively unknown back then, signed his five-year contract on July 16, 2020, in the Johan Cruijff ArenA. During the signing of his contract, the midfielder annexe attacker was clear about what Ajax fans could expect from him. "I’m creative and can create magic on the pitch", the left footed player said, who was the eighth Ghanian to wear the Ajax jersey. This was music to the ears of the supporters, who highly value Amsterdam's bravado.
Ajax-debut
The new Ajax asset played his first match for the club on September 20, 2020. The reigning Eredivisie champion hosted RKC Waalwijk in the Johan Cruijff ArenA on that Sunday afternoon. During his first match in service of the Amsterdam-based club, the Ghanaian ball virtuoso impressed the crowd instantly. Due to his strength and technical skills, Kudus added something valuable to Ajax’s play and was awarded the King of the Match trophy.
Shortly after his positive Ajax debut, Kudus experienced a tough setback. The 22-year-old Ghanaian suffered an injury to his meniscus during the UEFA Champions League match against Liverpool. This took him out of rotation, but he got back in shape right in time for the most important phase of the season. Kudus got back onto the pitch around February 2021 and won the double together with Ajax in the 2020/2021 season. The midfielder annexe attacker played 22 matches in that successful season, in which he scored four times and gave three assists.
Kudus started the 2021/2022 season with an ankle injury. This left Erik ten Hag unable to use the creative left-footed player in the first matches. Once the Ghanaian got back into the flow and started to play for minutes for Ajax, he got injured again in November. While playing a match for the Ghana national team, Kudus suffered broken ribs. Just like the year before, the 'Starboy' managed to get back in shape in February. He was able to lift the Eredivisie trophy again in May. In twenty matches, the Ghanaian was responsible for one goal and one assist.
Personal success
The midfielder annexe attacker had a wonderful start to the 2022/2023 season. The Dutch supporters were already familiar with Kudus and his qualities, but during the group stage of the UEFA Champions League, he made a name for himself in Europe. The Ghanaian scored six goals in the group stage of the biggest European tournament. He also gave two assists. This resulted in Kudus ending in a shared fifth place on the MVP ranking. If we take a look at the clubs who did not make it through the group stage, he ends up in first place on the ranking.
Despite securing the third position in the Eredivisie, Kudus experienced his prime moments in Amsterdam during his last full season. In total, he participated in 42 matches in the 2022/2023 season. He scored eighteen times and provided seven assists.
The Ghanaian football virtuoso sported the Ajax jersey three more times this season. Once again, he showcased his skills, contributing four goals and one assist in three matches. In his final appearance as an Ajax player, Kudus shined with a hat-trick during the first leg of the UEFA Europa League play-offs against Ludogorets.
87 matches, 27 goals
The three goals made by Kudus in Razgrad bring his total to 27. He made those goals spread out over 87 matches. He played 83 matches together with Tadic, the most of all Ajax players. Davy Klaassen (81) and Edson Álvarez (75) follow. The Ghanaian won 56 out of 87 matches with the team from Amsterdam, which is a 64 percent win rate. The #Kudusdream will be continued in London.
Thank you, Starboy
