Nigerian striker Tolu Arokodare has left Wolverhampton Wanderers to join Ajax on a season-long loan. The 25-year-old aims to put a challenging year at Molineux behind him and find his scoring form in the Eredivisie, as reported by ESPN.
Arokodare's move to Amsterdam includes an option for the Dutch giants to make the transfer permanent next summer. He struggled for goals during his time with Wolves, a stark contrast to his previous campaign where he was the top scorer in Belgium. His last season with Genk saw him net 21 league goals, win the Ebony Shoe, and finish as the Belgian Pro League's leading marksman.
What did Arokodare achieve before joining Wolves?
Before his move to the Premier League, Tolu Arokodare established himself as a prolific forward in Europe. His 2024-25 season with Genk was exceptional, resulting in 41 goals across 113 total appearances for the club. That golden boot-winning form convinced Wolverhampton Wanderers to sign him, but he failed to replicate those numbers in England. His career path has also included spells in Latvia, Germany, and France, building a varied profile before his arrival at Molineux.
How has he started his Ajax career?
The early signs in Amsterdam have been positive. Arokodare scored on his first appearance for Ajax, a preseason friendly against FC Volendam on August 2 which ended in a 3-1 win. He made his Eredivisie debut a week later on August 9, coming off the bench in a 2-0 victory at PEC Zwolle and providing the assist for Jorthy Mokio's breakthrough goal. He was an unused substitute in Ajax's 3-1 Conference League qualifying win over Shelbourne on August 6, but the team advanced 5-3 on aggregate to face FC Sion in the playoff round.
What is next for Arokodare and Ajax?
Ajax's immediate focus is on securing European football. They face Swiss side FC Sion in the Conference League playoff round, with the first leg in Switzerland on August 20 and the return in Amsterdam on August 27. Domestically, the team drew 2-2 with Heerenveen last Sunday after surrendering a two-goal lead, a match where Arokodare again appeared as a substitute. The Nigerian joins a storied lineage of compatriots at the club, including Champions League winners Finidi George and Nwankwo Kanu. Arokodare reflected on his Wolves stint, saying, "I don't think there's a real reason or there's a real excuse. I think it's part of the game." He added about his Ajax debut, "It was a really nice feeling. Honestly, even though it was a friendly game, I was happy to come on to play."
For Wolverhampton Wanderers, Arokodare's departure opens a squad place as they prepare for their upcoming Premier League fixtures, which fans can track on the club's fixtures page. His exit follows the club's strategy of managing its attacking options, detailed in the current squad list. Ajax will hope the striker rediscovers the form that made him a target for Wolves, aiming for goals and glory in a competition where they are four-time European champions.
