Mohammed Kudus Receives Special Gift From West Ham Despite Controversial Tottenham Move
· YEN.com.gh News · Join- Mohammed Kudus has been reunited with the wooden elephant stool he used in his goal celebrations at West Ham United
- The symbolic piece was handed back to the Ghanaian international after his £55 million transfer to Tottenham Hotspur
- Despite the controversy, the gesture from the Hammers has highlighted the respect between Kudus and his former club
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Mohammed Kudus endured a hostile reception from West Ham United fans during Tottenham Hotspur’s 3-0 victory at the London Stadium on September 13, 2025, but the Ghanaian still received a touch of respect from his former club after the final whistle.
The fixture had been highlighted on the calendar from the moment the Ghanaian sealed his £54.5 million move to Spurs in the summer, becoming the first player in 14 years to switch directly between the two clubs. The last to do so was Scott Parker back in 2011.
Source: Getty Images
As expected, the 25-year-old faced relentless heckling from the home crowd whenever he was on the ball, with the atmosphere underlining just how bitter the rivalry remains.
Despite the hostility, Kudus kept his composure and contributed to a convincing Tottenham display, leaving with a smile as Spurs secured a commanding win at his former team.
In one of his standout moments against his former club, Kudus showcased flawless control with an exceptional first touch. The clip was later shared on X, drawing reactions.
And while the supporters made their feelings clear about Kudus' divisive cross-club transfer, West Ham staff showed class in extending respect to their ex-player after the game.
Mohammed Kudus handed iconic wooden stool
According to The Athletic, the hostility went beyond the boos, with even a ball boy refusing to hand Kudus the ball for a corner. Yet, despite the tension during the match, the atmosphere shifted after full-time.
The Ghanaian forward shared a warm exchange with several West Ham non-playing staff members before heading towards the family enclosure, where he was presented with his famous wooden stool.
The custom-made elephant stool has become a symbol of his celebrations, paying homage to Ghanaian chiefs and cultural traditions. Kudus, clearly appreciative of the gesture, expressed his gratitude to the club.
“It’s my roots," he once said via West Ham's channels. "Where I come from, the chiefs and the kings, they sit on stools where are they are from. So I thought it would be nice to share a little bit of life where I am from. This is mine now and no one [else] can do it!"
After netting against Brighton in December 2024, Kudus grabbed a wooden stool carved with an elephant from behind the goal and sat on it alongside teammate Crysencio Summerville.
He later explained the meaning behind the celebration via the Premier League's website:
“It's a special stool, a stool from Ghana. With my celebration, I see a lot of competitors and people doing it, so I thought, ‘Why not do something different?’"
Source: Getty Images
Kudus's comments upon joining Tottenham may have turned him into public enemy number one for West Ham fans, but behind the scenes, his exit was far more amicable.
His rapport with former teammates and staff showed that he left on good terms, despite the animosity from the stands.
Ahead of the derby, Kudus even admitted he was looking forward to catching up with his old colleagues, regardless of the hostile welcome awaiting him at the London Stadium.
On the pitch, the Ghanaian forward kept his composure, unfazed by the jeers, and was spared any rough treatment from his former teammates.
Meanwhile, Kudus will be hoping to break his goal-scoring duck for his new club when they host Villarreal in their UEFA Champions League opener tonight (September 16, 2025).
Two main weaknesses of Kudus analysed
Earlier, YEN.com.gh analysed two key flaws in Mohammed Kudus’s game despite his bright start in his first few matches for Tottenham Hotspur.
The Ghanaian has contributed two assists in his opening four matches, but still has a long way to go to cement his position as a Spurs standout.
Proofreading by Bruce Douglas, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh