“I hope I can do just as well here as Mohammed Kudus” – Simon Adingra

Ivory Coast footballer Simon Adingra has embarked on a season-long loan transfer from Sunderland to Ajax Amsterdam, with Ajax retaining the right to purchase him at the culmination of the 2026/27 season. In his inaugural interview as an Ajax player, the 24-year-old expressed his aspirations to mirror the impact left by another Right To Dream Academy graduate, Mohammed Kudus.

"I hope I can do just as well here as Mohammed Kudus," Adingra remarked, extolling Ajax's atmosphere and playing style, which aligns with his strengths in one-on-one duels and possession-oriented football. "Ajax is a good environment and also the style of play I think it fits my style," he added. Kudus, who served as a benchmark for Adingra, achieved a remarkable 27 goals and 12 assists over 87 games in 27 appearances across all competitions during his tenure at Ajax between 2020 and 2023.

While Kudus also contributed to two Eredivisie titles and the KNVB Cup, he subsequently transferred to the Premier League. Adingra, who was a part of the 2023 AFCON-winning team, was on loan at Monaco during the previous season as he grappled with limited playing time at Sunderland. The deal saw Ajax pay Sunderland a reported €3.8 million (£3.3 million) loan fee with the option to make the transfer permanent for around €16 million (£13.7 million) in the forthcoming summer.

Technical director Jordi Cruyff lauded Adingra's attributes, noting that he brings "pace, penetration and a strong mentality" to a squad aiming to revive its attacking prowess.