Ajax eyes Nigerian striker Arokodare as potential target man

Binnen the Johan Cruyff Arena, Ajax are looking to plug a striking void left by recent departures by adding 25‑year‑old Tolu Arokodare on loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers. The Nigeriaanse forward arrives with a €20 million purchase option, a figure first reported by Fabrizio Romano, and offers a fresh target‑man option for the Dutch side.

De loan agreement obliges Ajax to cover the full salary of the ten‑time Nigeria‑international and grants the Nederlandse club a permanent‑buy clause for roughly €20 million, matching the amount Wolves originally paid to secure him from KRC Genk.

Arokodare built his reputation in Belgium, featuring in 113 matches for KRC Genk, netting 41 goals and providing 12 assists, establishing himself as the club’s leading attacker.

Wolves completed his transfer in the summer of 2025 for €26 million, a fee that reflected his prolific output in the Jupiler Pro League.

His spell in England proved challenging; at Molineux, Arokodare reportedly refused to leave the training ground after being told he would no longer train with the first‑team squad, signalling frustration over limited minutes.

Vincent Haegeman, editor of VoetbalPrimeur.be, recalled his early days at Genk: “Toen hij aankwam, waren de verwachtingen hoog omdat Genk een traditie heeft van lange spitsen. Hij scoorde op zijn debuut, maar het eerste halve seizoen riep sceptische reacties op.” He added that the striker’s physical qualities steadily improved, making him the undisputed number one attacker at Genk.

Haegeman highlighted Arokodare’s 1.97‑meter stature, airy presence and surprising speed for his height, while noting he is “more a typical Jupiler Pro League‑spits than an Eredivisie‑aanvaller.”

Looking ahead to Amsterdam, Haegeman believes Arokodare can serve as a target man behind Marcos Leonardo, adding pressure on opponents. He suggests the player could start as an impact substitute, delivering a fresh impulse when called upon.

Financially, a permanent move would cost Ajax about €20 million, a sum comparable with Premier League standards. Haegeman warned that clubs from Germany or Spain might hesitate at that price, but he sees the deal as realistic if Ajax can adapt the striker’s style to their attacking philosophy.