Tolu Arokodare: 2 appeals Ajax made to Nigerian striker over Wolves

Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare has revealed the two major attractions that convinced him to join Dutch giants Ajax on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with the club’s rebuilding project and the opportunity to rediscover his best form influencing his decision.

The 25-year-old joined Ajax for the 2026/27 season after a difficult spell at Wolves, where he scored six goals and provided two assists in 38 games across all competitions, a huge drop from the 23 goals he scored in Genk the previous season.

Arokodare said conversations with Ajax’s technical director Jordi Cruyff and the club’s head coach helped persuade him that Amsterdam was the right destination for the next stage of his career.

2 appeals Ajax made to Tolu Arokodare over Wolves

1. Ajax’s ambition to return to the top

One of the biggest attractions for Arokodare was Ajax’s determination to reclaim their position among the leading clubs in Dutch and European football.

The Amsterdam side have endured difficult recent seasons compared to their celebrated past, having failed to win the Eredivisie since 2022, and their ambition to rebuild presented the Nigerian with an opportunity to contribute to a wider project rather than simply change clubs.

Speaking to Africafoot, the Nigerian explained that the club’s vision immediately caught his attention.

“I like the project and something that I wanted to join and work and build and take the club back to the top,” the striker said.

He added that Ajax’s desire to return to their customary position at the summit of Dutch football was very appealing.

“They’re trying to take Ajax back to the usual spot, the position which is number one spot, and obviously the previous seasons have not been the greatest.”

The discussions with Cruyff and the head coach strengthened his belief that Ajax offered a project worth committing to. The club also hold an option to make his loan move permanent next summer for a fee of €20m.

2. A chance to rediscover his best form

The second attraction was the opportunity to get his career back on track after a frustrating first season in English football.

Arokodare moved to Wolves in 2025 following an outstanding campaign with Genk, where he finished as the Belgian Pro League’s top scorer in 2024/25.

However, he found goals harder to come by in England. He scored three Premier League goals and made 38 appearances across competitions for Wolves, managing six goals in total.

His struggles limited his opportunities towards the end of the campaign, making a fresh start an appealing prospect.

Ajax offered the Nigerian a new environment in which to rebuild his confidence and return to the form he showed in Belgium. His physical presence and previous goalscoring record give him a platform to compete for a regular role, although he will still need to deliver consistently on the pitch.

The striker has also pointed to similarities between Dutch and Belgian football, which could help him settle into his new surroundings.

For Tolu Arokodare, the move is more than an escape from a difficult spell at Wolves. He has joined a historic club seeking to rebuild its standing, while gaining an opportunity to restore his own reputation as a reliable goalscorer.

So far, he’s done a decent job, scoring eight goals and providing three assists in 13 games for the Dutch giants.

Away from his goals, his acts off the pitch have also made him a fan favourite, especially after he chose to honour his teammate Kasper Djolberg after the Danish striker was ruled out for the entire 2026/2027 campaign due to an ACL injury.