"I looked up to Jay-Jay Okocha whilst growing up-Mohammed Kudus

New Tottenham Hotspur marquee signing Mohammed Kudus has revealed that Nigerian and African football icon Austin “Jay-Jay” Okocha was a key influence in his development as a footballer growing up in Ghana.

The 25-year-old, who recently completed a £55 million move from West Ham United to Spurs on a six-year deal, also shared his ambitions under manager Thomas Frank, pledging to contribute both offensively and defensively.

“In as much as I offer a lot offensively, defensively I want to be able to make the team feel like they can also depend on me,” Kudus told Hayters TV.

“The full-backs also need me in times like that, especially in games where we have to be defending sometimes, so it’s something I am bringing to the team.”

Kudus arrived in the Premier League from Ajax in 2023 and quickly established himself as one of West Ham’s standout players. During his time at the London Stadium, he made 65 appearances, scoring 13 goals and providing 12 assists.

After attracting interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United, Kudus opted for a move to north London and has already featured in all of Spurs’ pre-season friendlies against Reading, Arsenal, and Newcastle United.

The Right to Dream Academy graduate also reflected on his playing style and love for entertaining fans—something he attributes to his admiration for former Super Eagles maestro Jay-Jay Okocha.

“I’ve always seen the game like always trying to be different. We have a lot of passers and there are fewer guys who try to dribble and take on,” Kudus said.

“That’s how I’ve always grown to play—try to entertain the fans as much as I can. So it has always been part of my game. A lot of players inspired me, but in Africa I will say Jay-Jay Okocha—I really loved how he played.”

Internationally, Kudus has made 42 appearances for Ghana, scoring 12 goals, and is expected to play a central role in the Black Stars’ quest to qualify for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.