Harry Kane’s foray into the Bundesliga has mirrored the remarkable success of his Premier League days, with the England skipper setting the German league alight with record-breaking goal tallies.
Since his move to Bayern Munich from Tottenham Hotspur last summer, Kane has netted 27 goals in 26 appearances. In a stunning display of his goal-scoring prowess, he set a new Bundesliga record in November by becoming the first player to score 18 goals in the opening 12 matches of the season.
However, Kane isn’t the only ex-Tottenham striker making waves in the goal-scoring charts this season.
Georges-Kevin N’Koudou, now with Damac FC in the Saudi Pro League, has found the back of the net 14 times in 19 appearances across all competitions since his summer transfer. Despite not scoring at the Africa Cup of Nations, he contributed two assists before Cameroon’s exit to Nigeria in the Round of 16.
With 20 and 17 goals, only Cristiano Ronaldo and Aleksandar Mitrovic have outscored N’Koudou in the Saudi Pro League this campaign. His goal count surpasses that of Karim Benzema by five and exceeds the tallies of Sadio Mane and Riyad Mahrez by six.
N’Koudou is enjoying a standout season, a stark contrast to his forgettable stint at Spurs.
Joining Tottenham in the summer of 2016 as part of a £70 million expenditure spree that included signings like Vincent Janssen, Moussa Sissoko, and Victor Wanyama, N’Koudou was an £11 million acquisition from Marseille. Seen as a savvy move by Mauricio Pochettino, the winger had attracted attention from numerous clubs across Europe and England after a 10-goal season at Marseille.
Despite interest from teams including Manchester United, Liverpool, West Ham, Sevilla, and a rejected bid from Hamburg, it was Pochettino’s call that persuaded N’Koudou to sign a five-year deal, a year after his £1 million move from Nantes to Marseille.
Yet, the former France Under-21 international, who switched to playing for Cameroon in 2022, didn’t live up to the hype in England. His first season at Spurs saw limited action, with just 47 minutes of play in eight Premier League games.
A loan move to Burnley in January 2018 was seen as a chance for regular football. Despite N’Koudou’s optimism, his time at Burnley and a subsequent loan to Monaco were marred by limited opportunities and injuries.
Eventually transferring to Besiktas in the summer of 2019 for £4.6 million, N’Koudou found his form, contributing significantly over four seasons with 21 goals in 108 appearances and securing a domestic double in his second season. This resurgence in Turkey marked a significant turnaround from his challenging spells in England and France.
