Tolu Arokodare marked his first appearance for Ajax with a late winner, and the Super Eagles striker says the club’s winning mentality has him feeling instantly at home.
Tolu Arokodare wasted no time announcing himself in Amsterdam. The Super Eagles striker scored on his first appearance for Ajax, and he says the club’s hunger to return to the top of Dutch football has him feeling settled already.
Arokodare joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the agreement including a non-compulsory €22 million purchase option. According to Soccernet.ng, he officially completed the move on Wednesday, July 29, becoming the eighth Nigerian to represent the Dutch giants — following in the footsteps of Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George.
His impact came almost immediately. In a pre-season friendly against FC Volendam on August 2, Arokodare came off the bench in the 71st minute and needed just 17 more to make his mark — pouncing on a loose ball inside the six-yard box to fire home the winner in a 3-1 victory.
Speaking to Dutch outlet De Telegraaf, the 25-year-old striker made clear that Ajax’s determination to bounce back from a below-par season is what stood out most. “The mentality is fantastic,” he said. “Everyone within the club knows, of course, what happened last season. We also all know what we have to do this season, and you feel that immediately as soon as you step onto the training pitch.”
He also credited his new teammates for making the transition smooth. “The players gave me a wonderful welcome. You can see that in how we treat each other. When Leo scored, everyone on the bench was applauding him and everyone was happy for him. It is a very warm group.” At 1.97 metres, Arokodare brings a physical presence Ajax have been short of up front, and he’s already talking about the goals he wants to add to that.
There’s a practical boost to go with the good vibes, too — UEFA has cleared Arokodare to play in European competition this season. That makes him available for Ajax’s Conference League third-round qualifying tie against Irish side Shelbourne, giving him an early chance to add continental minutes to his season.
For Nigeria, Arokodare’s rise is part of a broader pattern of Super Eagles players finding regular football at big European clubs this summer — a trend our roundup of Nigerian players abroad has also been tracking closely. A strong season in Amsterdam, allied with European football, would put him firmly in the frame as Nigeria continues its squad rebuild ahead of the next set of fixtures.
Which club has Tolu Arokodare joined?
Ajax, on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers that includes a non-compulsory €22 million purchase option.
Did Arokodare score on his Ajax debut?
Yes — he scored the winning goal as a substitute in a 3-1 pre-season victory over FC Volendam.
Is Arokodare eligible for European competition with Ajax?
Yes, UEFA has cleared him to play, meaning he’s available for Ajax’s Conference League qualifying tie against Shelbourne.
Source: Soccernet.ng.
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