Tottenham Hotspur has finally reached an agreement with West Ham United for a £55 million fee to acquire Ghanaian international midfielder Mohammed Kudus. The highly sought-after player is now expected to undergo a medical examination before finalizing a long-term contract with Spurs.
BBC Sport initially reported on Saturday that West Ham had rejected Tottenham’s opening bid of £50 million, but negotiations continued, ultimately leading to the breakthrough.
Kudus, who joined West Ham in 2023 from Ajax for £38 million, has been a key figure for the Hammers. In his 65 Premier League appearances for the club, he has registered 13 goals and provided nine assists. Despite an £85 million release clause in his contract for Premier League clubs, sources close to the player indicate that the 24-year-old had prioritized a move to Tottenham among at least six top clubs that had enquired about his services in recent weeks.
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Transfer Saga and Tottenham’s Pursuit
The agreement comes after weeks of intense negotiations and uncertainty surrounding Kudus’s future. The Ghana international reported for pre-season training with West Ham on Monday, July 7, 2025, amidst the ongoing transfer talks. Kudus has openly expressed his desire for a move away from the London Stadium, with a strong preference for joining a UEFA Champions League club. Tottenham, fresh off ending their 17-year trophy drought by winning the UEFA Europa League last season, emerged as the frontrunner for his signature.
However, talks between the two London clubs had previously stalled. According to talkSPORT, West Ham rejected Tottenham’s earlier bid, which included add-ons contingent on Spurs winning the Premier League or Champions League – conditions West Ham deemed unrealistic.
While Kudus remains a valuable asset, West Ham was reportedly willing to sell if their financial terms were met. His contract included an £85 million release clause for Premier League clubs, active until Thursday. For European clubs outside England, the price was set at £80 million, while Saudi Arabian teams faced a significantly higher threshold of £120 million. Tottenham, despite the earlier roadblocks, remained confident a deal could be reached, potentially by revising their proposal to remove performance-based clauses. Other suitors, including Saudi Pro League side Al Nassr and Chelsea, were closely monitoring the situation.
Across his two seasons at West Ham, Kudus has scored 19 goals, solidifying his position as one of the club’s most coveted players.
Expert Opinions On Transfer
Ibrahim Sannie Daara, former Communications Director of the Ghana Football Association (GFA), firmly believes Mohammed Kudus possesses the talent to secure a starting position at any club he joins. He even suggested that the former Ajax star is more talented than Arsenal forward Bukayo Saka. “There is no team that Mohammed Kudus will go to and be on the bench,” Daara told 3Sports.
BBC Sport’s chief football writer, Phil McNulty, also highlighted Kudus’s high regard among football experts, noting that former Liverpool player Danny Murphy had suggested Kudus as a potential target for Liverpool at the end of last season. According to him, when he spoke to Danny Murphy at the end of last season about players Liverpool should be looking at this summer, he named Kudus as one.
“The player is sought after – despite being as underwhelming last season as he was electrifying in 2023-24 following a £38m move from Ajax. He only scored five goals in the most recent campaign, down from 14 the year before, and was often ineffective in the system preferred by the West Ham head coach Graham Potter, who took charge in January and favours wing-backs over wingers,” he wrote.
Performance Analysis
Kudus has recorded 22 goal involvements over his two seasons at West Ham, comprising 13 goals and nine assists. His versatility is evident in his assist distribution, with four coming from the left of the penalty area, four from the right, and one from a through ball. The majority of his goals, however, have originated from the right side of the box, with only two scored from outside the area.
Despite his strong overall record, Kudus’s performance in the most recent campaign (2024-25) saw a dip, with only five goals compared to 14 the previous year. This was partly attributed to West Ham head coach Graham Potter, who took charge in January, often deploying Kudus as a centre-forward instead of his arguably preferred position wide on the right, where captain Jarrod Bowen typically plays.
Kudus’s adaptability allows him to play across multiple attacking roles, including left wing, attacking midfield, right wing, and centre forward, all of which he featured in for West Ham last season. His precise role at Tottenham under Thomas Frank remains to be seen.
Fan Reactions To Mohammed Kudus Move
The news of Kudus’s potential move to Tottenham has garnered mixed reactions from fans. Some netizens have expressed surprise, questioning Tottenham’s need for a player of his profile given existing squad depth, suggesting other areas might require more strengthening.
Good deal for WHU but why do Tottenham need him? Surely they have players like him already and other areas they need to strengthen more?
A West Ham United fan, while disappointed, acknowledged the club’s position, stating, “Kudus on his day is a world-class player but unfortunately last season he didn’t live up to his potential and fell short of the required standard. I hope that we can at least invest in young players with potential…”
As a West Ham United fan I am disappointed that Kudus is moving on but I fully understand the position that the club find themselves in. I just wonder if Graham Potter has a plan to paper over any cracks that may be left. Kudus on his day is a world-class player but unfortunately last season he didn’t live up to his potential and fell short of the required standard. I hope that we can at least invest in young players with potential, who can hopefully deliver from the start of what could be another tricky season ahead.” he wrote.
Is £55m Becoming A Benchmark In Premier League Transfers This Summer?
Interestingly, the £55 million fee for Mohammed Kudus aligns with a recent trend in the Premier League transfer market this summer. Newcastle United recently agreed a £55 million fee for Nottingham Forest winger Anthony Elanga, and Arsenal has reportedly made an official approach for Chelsea’s Noni Madueke, with a bid thought to be around £50 million. This suggests a potential benchmark for high-value winger and attacking midfielder transfers in the current window.
BBC Sports Reporter, Craig Nelson wrote
There seems to be a handful of deals being made in the Premier League this summer at or around the £55m mark.
Remember, Newcastle agreed a £55m fee with Nottingham Forest for their Sweden winger Anthony Elanga earlier this week.
BBC Sport’s Alex Howell has also reported that Arsenal have made an official approach for Chelsea’s England winger Noni Madueke, thought to be around £50m.
Credit: BBC Sport
