Bought from Middlesbrough over the summer by Ajax Amsterdam, Chuba Akpom sat down with the club’s official channels over the weekend to discuss his first few weeks at the club, and while he didn’t mention Arsenal directly, he certainly alluded to his time there thanks to the man who bought him.
That’s Sven Mislintat, who worked as the head of scouting for the Gunners between 2017 and 2019, meaning the two will have crossed paths at the Emirates and the training ground.
There’s also a reason why the now director of football at Ajax will have turned his attention to the former Arsenal man, as he will know exactly what he can bring to the team.
Forget the many goals that he scored in the Championship last season, the fact the two already knew each other from their time together in London will have definitely played a part in the signing, and has also helped Akpom adapt to his new surroundings.
He said, relayed by MSN: “My first weeks in Amsterdam were good. I first had to wait for my work visa, but I have it now and so I can play. It’s a fantastic club with nice people, everyone is very friendly. I feel very welcome. Especially thanks to Sven. He showed me around here and also welcomed my family with open arms. He is a great guy, a very nice and special man.”
The 27-year-old had been at Arsenal since 2002 when he decided to finally leave his childhood club in 2018, when he was sold to PAOK Salonika.
He returned to England two years later with Middlesbrough, who then loaned him back out to his former club the next season, only for him to return and shine under Michael Carrick.
