Mika Godts

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

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, before signing with Genk in 2020. He also represented Belgium at under-17 level for the first time in 2020.

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. 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.

Ajax

On 31 January 2023, Godts signed for Ajax on a contract until June 2025, with Ajax paying a reported fee of €1 million plus a sell-on clause. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.

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. 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. 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. 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.

International career

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

Style of play

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

Career statistics

Club

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Godts, Mika
Living people
2005 births
Belgian men's footballers
Belgium men's youth international footballers
Men's association football forwards
Men's association football wingers
R.S.C. Anderlecht players
K.R.C. Genk players
AFC Ajax players
Jong Ajax players
Eredivisie players
Eerste Divisie players
Challenger Pro League players
Belgian expatriate men's footballers
Expatriate men's footballers in the Netherlands
Belgian expatriate sportspeople in the Netherlands
21st-century Belgian sportsmen