Super Eagles: 3 qualities that makes Arokodare stand out at Ajax

Super Eagles forward Tolu Arokodare has made an impressive start to life at Eredivisie club Ajax Amsterdam, earning praise from NEC Nijmegen defender Perr Schuurs.

The 25-year-old joined Ajax from English Premier League side Wolves during the summer transfer window on a loan deal that will keep him at the Dutch club for the entire 2026/27 season.

Arokodare has since shown signs of rediscovering the form he displayed at Belgian club Genk before his disappointing spell at Wolves last season.

The Super Eagles striker has scored seven goals across all competitions, including four in the Eredivisie. His latest goal came in Ajax’s 1-1 draw with NEC on Saturday, when he opened the scoring early in the encounter with a trademark finish, rising above his marker to power a header past the goalkeeper and give Ajax the lead.

His performances are gradually easing the initial doubts about whether he would fit into Ajax’s system, given how he struggled at Wolves and he is already becoming an important figure in the team.

Super Eagles: 3 qualities that make Arokodare a different player at Ajax

Arokodare delivered another impressive performance against NEC, attracting praise from Schuurs, who was full of admiration for the Super Eagles star’s abilities.

The former Ajax defender also went on to reveal several qualities that make the Super Eagles forward a different breed of player since joining Ajax.

1. Arokodare’s physical strength makes him a good target man

One of Arokodare’s biggest strengths is his physical presence. Standing at 1.97 metres tall, the Super Eagles striker uses his size and strength effectively during matches.

He can receive the ball under pressure, shield it from defenders and bring his teammates into the game and his ability to hold off opponents also makes him a very difficult player to dispossess.

Schuurs experienced this during Saturday’s encounter and admitted that facing the striker was a tough challenge.

“I knew he was big and strong, but he can also jump well. Once he goes into the air, he is three metres tall”, the Dutch defender said post-match. 

2. Arokodare’s aerial ability

Another major strength that makes Arokodare a threat to opposing defences is his ability in the air.

The 25-year-old is very effective in the air and can use his height togain advantage over defenders. He knows when to jump and how to position himself to make the most of opportunities in the air.

This has helped him score several goals with his head throughout his career, and his opener against NEC provided another example of his threat inside the penalty area.

Schuurs acknowledged how difficult it was to deal with the striker’s header, even though the delivery into the box did not initially appear dangerous.

“Conceding a goal early in the game is never nice to start with, but we could do very little about this. It was a very soft cross, but he gave the ball so much strength. That’s really difficult. You can see that he has quality”, the defender added.

3. Intelligence and awareness makes him more effective

Beyond his physical attributes, Arokodare also possesses the intelligence to make effective use of his strengths.

The Super Eagles forward understands how to position himself and nvolve his teammates in the attack. His ability to read situations and adjust his approach during games makes him much more effective.

Schuurs was also impressed by this aspect of the striker’s game, highlighting his intelligence as another quality that stood out during the encounter.

“I was shocked by his physicality and cleverness”, Schuurs said.

With seven goals across all competitions since joining Ajax, Arokodare will be eager to maintain his current form throughout the season.

The Super Eagles forward, who now has a bigger role in the team due to Kasper Dolberg’s injury, will hope to continue his fine form in Ajax’s 2026/27 UEFA Conference League opener against Hajduk Split on Thursday.