Mohammed Kudus is one of the brightest African football stars of his generation.
After shining for Ajax with his dazzling dribbles, goals, and versatility,
the Ghanaian international was heavily linked with a move to the Premier League in the summer of 2023.
At one point, Chelsea seemed the clear frontrunner to secure his signature.
Kudus had already agreed personal terms with the Blues and was keen on making the switch to Stamford Bridge.
Yet, the deal never materialized — and now, we finally know why.
Chelsea’s Lowball Offer
According to Kudus’ agent, Jen Mendelewitsch, Chelsea’s initial offer to Ajax was only €15–20 million,
a figure far below the Dutch club’s valuation of the player. Ajax rejected the bid outright.
Despite having personal terms in place, Chelsea never followed up with a stronger bid that could have convinced Ajax to sell.
The Moisés Caicedo Distraction
The summer of 2023 was dominated by Chelsea’s record-breaking pursuit of MoisĂ©s Caicedo from Brighton.
The transfer saga dragged on for weeks and ultimately cost the Blues over €116 million.
Kudus’ agent believes Chelsea’s complete focus on the Caicedo deal meant they simply didn’t push hard enough for Kudus.
Ajax, meanwhile, wanted clarity, and West Ham quickly swooped in with a better package.
Kudus Chooses West Ham
West Ham eventually paid €44.5 million to sign Kudus, securing one of the bargains of the window.
Since then, the Ghanaian has adapted quickly to Premier League football,
becoming one of West Ham’s most exciting players and proving that Chelsea may have missed out on a gem.
What This Means for Chelsea
The failed Kudus transfer highlights a pattern for Chelsea in recent years:
big spending on headline deals while missing opportunities for smart, mid-range signings.
Kudus could have provided creativity, goals, and versatility in attack — qualities Chelsea still lack.
For West Ham, however, it was a masterstroke. Kudus has quickly become a fan favorite and a crucial part of David Moyes’ squad.
Final Thoughts
The main reason Kudus never joined Chelsea wasn’t down to the player, but to Chelsea’s undervaluation and distraction with other transfers.
West Ham acted faster, paid more, and reaped the rewards.
Sometimes, in football, timing and decisiveness are everything. Chelsea hesitated — and lost.
👉 What do you think? Should Chelsea have pushed harder for Mohammed Kudus, or was he better off at West Ham?