Kudus to Ajax – Dutch champions win race for highly rated Nordsjaelland talent

Ajax have beaten off reported competition from several Premier League clubs to sign highly rated Ghanaian teenager Mohammed Kudus from Nordsjaelland.

The 19-year-old attacking midfielder is thought to have cost Ajax roughly €9million and has signed a five-year contract.

Kudus came through the Right To Dream academy in Ghana, an organisation set up by former Manchester United scout Tom Vernon in the late 1990s.

Vernon and a group of investors acquired Danish Superliga side Nordsjaelland in 2016, with the view to eventually developing a team made up entirely of academy graduates, and Kudus is one of the early success stories.

Our new number #KudusDream pic.twitter.com/I91EwqsjPW

— AFC Ajax (@AFCAjax) July 16, 2020

Kudus made the move to Nordsjaelland two years after the initial link was established and he proved a big hit, playing 51 league matches across two seasons with the senior side, scoring 14 times.

Eleven of those came in 2019-20, with his form attracting the interest of several of Europe's leading clubs.

But it is Ajax who have taken the plunge, with Kudus potentially seen as a long-term replacement for Hakim Ziyech, who has joined Chelsea.

Kudus, a nominee for the 2020 Golden Boy award, made his senior international debut for Ghana last year and is predicted to have a bright future.

Nima @right2dream FC Nordsjælland @afcajax ⁠ What a journey @KudusMohammedGH, we’re so proud of you. This is not a goodbye, it’s a we’ll see you again We wish you the best of luck in Amsterdam and we’ll follow your continuous journey in life ⁠ pic.twitter.com/d8xyEJeJJv

— FC Nordsjælland (@FCNordsjaelland) July 16, 2020