Mika Godts

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Mika Godts
Qarabag vs Ajax (24.10.2024) (Mika Godts).jpg
Godts in 2024 lining up for Ajax
Personal information
Full name Mika Marcel Godts
Date of birth (2005-06-07) 7 June 2005 (age 20)
Place of birth Leuven, Belgium
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Winger / Forward
Team information
Current team
 Ajax
Number 11
Youth career
–2020 Anderlecht
2020–2022 Genk
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2022–2023 Jong Genk 19 (7)
2023– Jong Ajax 29 (9)
2023– Ajax 44 (4)
International career‡
2020 Belgium U15 1 (0)
2021–2022 Belgium U17 8 (1)
2023 Belgium U19 7 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 14 May 2025
‡ National team caps and goals as of 21 November 2023

Mika Marcel Godts (born 7 June 2005) is a Belgian professional footballer who plays primarily as a winger for Eredivisie club Ajax.

Contents

Early life

Born in Leuven, Godts began playing football at a young age. He joined the youth setup of Anderlecht, where he developed his technical and tactical skills, [1] before signing with Genk in 2020. He also represented Belgium at under-17 level for the first time in 2020. [2]

Club career

Genk

Godts progressed to Jong Genk, Genk's reserve team, competing in the Challenger Pro League. During the first half of the 2022–23 season, he made 19 appearances and scored 7 goals. [3] As his contract approached its expiry date in June 2023, Godts indicated he did not intend to sign a new deal with Genk, attracting interest from other clubs. [4] [5]

Ajax

On 31 January 2023, Godts signed for Ajax on a contract until June 2025, [6] with Ajax paying a reported fee of €1 million plus a sell-on clause. [7] He initially joined Jong Ajax, making a goal-scoring debut on 20 February 2023 in a 4–2 Eerste Divisie home win against MVV Maastricht. [8] [9] His performances quickly earned him a first-team call-up, and on 9 April 2023, he made his Eredivisie debut for Ajax as a substitute in a 4–0 home win over Fortuna Sittard. [10] Godts also featured as a substitute in the 2023 KNVB Cup final against PSV Eindhoven, scoring his penalty in the shoot-out which Ajax ultimately lost. [11] He continued to gain experience primarily with Jong Ajax for the remainder of the 2022–23 season.

During the 2023–24 season, Godts split his time between Jong Ajax, where he scored 6 goals in 14 appearances, and the first team. [12] His integration into the senior squad was significantly hampered by a thigh injury sustained near the start of the season, which kept him sidelined for approximately three months. [13] Despite the setback, he made 13 Eredivisie appearances and gained his first taste of European football with 3 appearances off the bench in the UEFA Europa League. [12]

Godts became a more integrated member of the first-team squad under manager Francesco Farioli for the 2024–25 season, often featuring as a left winger. [14] He scored his first goals for the senior team, netting 4 times in the Eredivisie by mid-March 2025, including the opener in a 4-0 win against Heracles Almelo in February. [15] [12] He also scored his first European goals during the UEFA Europa League campaign, including a brace in a 4–0 home victory against Beşiktaş on 26 September 2024. [16] His growing importance was highlighted when a hamstring injury sustained against Galatasaray in late January 2025 caused selection issues for Farioli on the left wing. [14]

International career

Godts has represented Belgium at various youth international levels. He earned a cap for the Belgium U15 team in 2020. [12] He was a regular for the U17 team, scoring once in 8 appearances between 2021 and 2022. [12] He represented the U17s at the 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship finals tournament.[ citation needed ] In 2023, he progressed to the U19 team, scoring 2 goals in 7 appearances. [12]

Style of play

Godts primarily plays as a left winger but can also operate as an attacking midfielder. [1] He is noted for his dribbling ability, pace, and close ball control, making him effective in one-on-one situations. [1] Considered a creative player capable of driving attacks forward, taking risks, and creating goalscoring opportunities, he also possesses finishing ability. [1] His playing style has drawn comparisons with former Belgian international Eden Hazard. [17] [1]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 14 May 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] EuropeTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Jong Genk 2022–23 Challenger Pro League 197——197
Jong Ajax 2022–23 Eerste Divisie 113——113
2023–24 Eerste Divisie146——146
Total259——259
Ajax 2022–23 Eredivisie 30100040
2023–24 Eredivisie130003 [b] 0160
2024–25 Eredivisie2842016 [b] 4468
Total44430194668
Career total88173019411021
  1. ↑ Includes KNVB Cup
  2. 1 2 Appearances in UEFA Europa League

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Who Is Mika Godts? Ajax Career Stats, Analysis & Playing Style". Sportsdunia. 4 March 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  2. ↑ "Ajax strictly Belgian youth international (17)". vi.nl. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  3. ↑ "Why foreign clubs rush on Belgian talents in post-training". Walfoot. 26 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  4. ↑ "Mika Godts richt zich nog niet op transfer: "Zorgen dat we in 1B blijven"". Voetbalkrant. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  5. ↑ "On the start, the great talent Mika Godts scores a superb goal with Jong Genk". Walfoot. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  6. ↑ "Racing Genk ziet supertalent Mika Godts (17) naar Ajax vertrekken". Sporza.be. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  7. ↑ "Genk loses a young talent who goes to Ajax: the clubs have reached an agreement". Walfoot. 30 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  8. ↑ "AJAX II VS. MVV 4-2". Soccerway. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  9. ↑ "Football Talk. Godts scoort in debuutmatch voor Jong Ajax". hln.be. 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  10. ↑ "Berghuis Excels As Ajax Sweep Aside Fortuna Sittard". Football-Oranje. 9 April 2023. Retrieved 9 April 2023.
  11. ↑ "Ajax 1-1 PSV Eindhoven (2-3 pens): PSV triumph in final of few chances". Dutchnews.nl. 30 April 2023. Retrieved 2 May 2023.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Mika Godts at Soccerway
  13. ↑ "Belgisch toptalent Mika Godts staat maanden aan de kant na bizarre blessure". Sporza.be. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  14. 1 2 "Farioli on Godts' injury, De Klassieker, and his new hobby: puzzling". Ajax . 31 January 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  15. ↑ "Ajax pull clear as PSV and Utrecht draw, Feyenoord falter". DutchNews.nl. 17 February 2025. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  16. ↑ "Ajax win against Beşiktaş: 4-0". AFC Ajax. 26 September 2024. Retrieved 1 April 2025.
  17. ↑ "BnR Scout: Mika Godts, the new Hazard". Bolanarese.pt. 20 January 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
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