Mohammed Kudus has suddenly found himself at the heart of a bitter fallout with West Ham United supporters, who now accuse him of betrayal after his move to Tottenham Hotspur.

The Ghanaian midfielder, once a fan favourite at the London Stadium, was likened to Judas Iscariot after sealing a £55 million transfer across the capital this summer. His switch has sparked anger among Hammers fans, who have gone as far as unfurling a banner labelling him “Judus” — a cruel pun on his name — while videos of supporters burning his old No.14 shirt have also surfaced online.

For many in East London, the pain has been amplified by Kudus’ brilliant start in a Spurs shirt. After impressing in the UEFA Super Cup against Paris Saint-Germain, the 25-year-old dazzled in his Premier League debut, setting up two goals for Richarlison in a 3-0 win over Burnley. Tottenham fans are already embracing him, while their West Ham counterparts suffered the agony of watching their team slump to a 3-0 defeat at newly promoted Sunderland.

The contrast could not have been starker — one club celebrating their new talisman, the other mourning his absence.

West Ham, for their part, explained that Kudus’ departure was down to his dip in form last season, when he managed just five goals and three assists in the league, a decline from the eight goals and nine assists he registered in his first campaign. But that has done little to ease tensions among supporters who feel he abandoned them.

All eyes now turn to match week four, when Tottenham travel to the London Stadium. Kudus’ return promises to be a fiery spectacle, with emotions sure to spill over as the Hammers faithful prepare their reception for their former hero-turned-rival.

Meanwhile, Kudus continues to represent a bright spark for Ghana abroad. Alongside the likes of Antoine Semenyo, who struck twice over the weekend, and goalkeeper Ati-Zigi, who kept a clean sheet, the Black Stars’ European contingent are making waves early in the new season.