Two reasons Tolu Arokodare will thrive at Ajax following Wolves exit

Tolu Arokodare’s move to Ajax may have come as a surprise, but it could prove to be the ideal career reset after a frustrating year in England, Afrik Foot reports.

The Super Eagles striker is set to join the Dutch giants on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with Ajax covering his full salary, paying a loan fee and holding a non-mandatory €22 million purchase option.

After Wolves’ relegation from the Premier League and an underwhelming individual campaign that yielded six goals and two assists in 38 appearances, the 25-year-old now returns to a league where his qualities appear far better suited.

While Ajax are taking little financial risk thanks to the structure of the deal, there are equally compelling reasons to believe Arokodare could quickly rediscover the form that earned him the Belgian Pro League Golden Boot before his move to England.

Why Tolu Arokodare will thrive at Ajax

1. Ajax’s tactical approach perfectly suits Arokodare

One of the clearest reasons behind Ajax’s pursuit is tactical. Dutch football has traditionally rewarded physically dominant centre-forwards capable of combining aerial strength with intelligent movement inside the penalty area.

Arokodare fits that profile. At 1.97 metres, he is one of Europe’s tallest elite forwards, but his game extends beyond winning headers. At Genk, he consistently demonstrated his ability to hold up play, link midfield runners and occupy multiple defenders simultaneously.

Those qualities largely disappeared at Wolves, where managerial instability, limited service and irregular minutes prevented him from establishing any rhythm.

Former De Telegraaf journalist Mike Verweij believes Ajax are signing exactly the type of striker Eredivisie defenders dislike facing.

“This is a striker who can strike fear into opponents. He is not very refined, but I do think he is a player who will scare a lot of Eredivisie defenders to death,” he said in quotes revealed by Goal.

His comments also highlighted another area where Ajax struggled last season.

The four-time UEFA Champions League winners looked vulnerable defending set-pieces while lacking an equally imposing presence inside the opposition box after Wout Weghorst’s departure. Arokodare solves both problems.

Defensively, his height offers additional protection during dead-ball situations. Offensively, Ajax finally regain a reference point capable of converting crosses and creating space for attacking midfielders and wingers.

Unlike Wolves, where he often played within a reactive system fighting relegation, Ajax are expected to dominate possession in most Eredivisie matches.

That naturally creates far more penalty-box touches, crossing opportunities and high-quality chances for a striker with Arokodare’s profile, which is a similar environment to Genk where he flourished.

2. Ajax offers the perfect platform to rebuild his reputation

Beyond tactics, Ajax is exactly the kind of career pathway Arokodare was searching for when he rejected offers from Turkey.

Earlier this summer, the Nigerian turned down approaches from Fiorentina and Trabzonspor because he wanted a project capable of restoring his value while keeping him within a club where his visibility to all of Europe remains at its apex.

Ajax ticks virtually every box. Despite finishing fifth last season and dropping into the UEFA Conference League, the Dutch giants remain one of Europe’s most respected talent-development clubs.

For decades, strikers have rebuilt or accelerated their careers in Amsterdam before securing major moves across Europe.

Several African stars, including Mohammed Kudus, Sébastien Haller and Antony’s attacking teammates, used Ajax as a stepping stone towards Europe’s biggest leagues.

Nigerian legends Nwankwo Kanu and Finidi George also cemented their reputations there before enjoying successful careers elsewhere.

More importantly, the structure of Arokodare’s transfer significantly reduces external pressure. Ajax have negotiated only a buy option rather than an obligation to purchase.

If he succeeds, they can permanently sign a proven Premier League striker for €22 million, and if he struggles, the club simply walks away.

That freedom allows both player and club to focus entirely on performances rather than transfer politics.

Regular football would also significantly strengthen Arokodare’s aim to return to Eric Chelle’s Super Eagles plans.

Nigeria’s striking department remains fiercely competitive, with Victor Osimhen, Victor Boniface, Paul Onuachu, Akor Adams and Rafiu Durosinmi all battling for places.

A productive campaign in Amsterdam would immediately place Arokodare back among Nigeria’s leading attacking options ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and future World Cup qualifiers.

For Ajax, the deal represents a calculated gamble with enormous upside. For Arokodare, it may be the opportunity to prove that his difficult spell at Wolves was merely an interruption rather than a reflection of his true ability.