Ivorian winger Simon Adingra says he is aiming to follow in the footsteps of Ghana international Mohammed Kudus after joining Ajax on a season-long loan from Sunderland.
The Dutch club have the option to sign Adingra permanently when the loan agreement ends, giving the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winner an opportunity to rebuild his momentum after struggling to establish himself at Sunderland.
Speaking in his first official interview as an Ajax player, Adingra said: “I’m hoping to emulate Mo Kudus’ success”.
Kudus, like Adingra, is a graduate of the Right To Dream Academy and enjoyed a highly successful three-year spell at Ajax. The Ghana winger scored 27 goals and supplied 12 assists in 87 appearances across all competitions for the club.
His time in Amsterdam also brought significant silverware, with Kudus winning the league title twice as well as the Dutch Cup.
Adingra is hoping to make a comparable impact during his own spell with Ajax. The 2023 AFCON winner arrives at the club after spending part of last season on loan at French Ligue 1 side AS Monaco, having found it difficult to secure a regular place in Sunderland’s team.
The loan move to Ajax gives the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations winner another chance to play a prominent role at a major European club. Ajax will assess his performances during the season before deciding whether to exercise the option to make the transfer permanent.
Kudus’ career has continued to develop since he left Ajax. The Ghana international moved from the Dutch club to West Ham before completing a further transfer from West Ham to Tottenham Hotspur ahead of the 2025-2026 season.
Adingra now begins his own chapter in Amsterdam with the example of Kudus providing a clear target. Both players share a connection through the Right To Dream Academy, and Kudus’ record of goals, assists and trophies at Ajax has set the standard Adingra hopes to match.
For the Ivorian winger, the immediate priority will be to make the most of his season-long opportunity, contribute for Ajax and show the form that helped him become an Africa Cup of Nations winner. The Dutch club’s option to buy means his performances could determine whether the temporary move becomes a permanent one.
