Ajax adds costly striker to challenge Leonardo for top scorer role

Today Ajax confirmed the arrival of Tolu Arokodare, a 1.97‑metre Nigerian forward, on a season‑long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The deal includes a non‑obligatory purchase option worth €18 million, according to the .

Ajax will also assume the player’s full salary, taking over the roughly €2.3 million per‑year wage the English club paid him after its Premier League relegation. This financial commitment makes Arokodare one of the highest‑earners at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

The loan adds immediate competition for Marcos Leonardo, who was signed earlier this summer as Ajax’s primary striker. Both forwards will vie for the centre‑forward role in the upcoming campaign.

Arokodare is viewed as a replacement for Wout Weghorst, who departed for FC Twente earlier in the transfer window. The Nigerian international’s arrival fills the void left by the departing Dutch target.

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Physically, Arokodare is a towering, powerful centre‑forward, contrasting sharply with the mobile, technically‑gifted Leonardo. His size and strength offer a different attacking dimension for the Dutch side.

The forward’s résumé includes spells at 1. FC Köln, Latvian side Valmiera and French club Amiens, but his most notable achievement came at KRC Genk, where he finished as Belgium’s top scorer with 21 goals. Italian clubs Genoa and Fiorentina were also linked with him before he chose Ajax.

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Technical director Jordi Cruijff praised the signing, stating: "With Tolu we acquire a striker profile we did not previously have – a physically strong player who has already proven his goal‑scoring ability. We trust he will add value to the team next season."

With Arokodare’s addition, the Ajax squad becomes increasingly complete, reinforcing the club’s ambition to compete on multiple fronts.