Tolu Arokodare is very much enjoying himself at Ajax following his departure from Wolves in the summer.
The striker may have needed an acrimonious exit to get out of Molineux this summer, but it seems it was worth it.
He’s quickly established himself as a key player for the Dutch side, with eight goals and three assists in 13 games in all competitions to date.
The latest of those come in the 2-0 win over Atalanta this week, in which he bagged a goal and an assist in just 24 minutes on the pitch. It was another high point that is firmly pushing his misery at Wolves into the background.
The Wolves loanee isn’t your typical Ajax striker. For a club that has boasted Marco van Basten, Patrick Kluivert, Dennis Bergkampe, Luis Suarez and plenty of others, the big striker is something new.
Criticism to adoration
He had faced criticism and cynicism when he first arrived, with many seeing him as the antithesis of an Ajax striker.
Now he has ‘effectively silenced all his critics’ say Sporza. And the Wolves man is feeling the love.
“I’ve had to be patient this season, but Leonardo has also been performing well,” he said.
“Do I accept my role as a substitute? I accept my role as an Ajax player—that’s the only thing that matters to me.”
He admits he struggled with his self confidence at Wolves after just six goals in 38 games at Molineux. That will have taken a further dent as some blamed him for relegation last season.
And it certainly won’t have been helped by the reaction to his acrimonious departure from the club this summer.
“When you’re a striker and you don’t score, it feels like you aren’t doing your job properly. At Wolverhampton, I struggled with my self-confidence,” he added.
“It feels amazing to have that support here. When I’m warming up and about to come on, the fans chant my name. I owe them a huge thank you, because I went through a really tough time at Wolves.
“But thanks to God and thanks to Ajax, I’ve learned how to score again—so I’m happy once more.”
Future transfer?
Attention now turns to the future. Will Arokodare be extending his time at Ajax next season? That remains to be seen.
Ajax have an option to turn the loan into a permanent move for just under €20m. If he maintains his current scoring rate, that could look like a bargain.
Arokodare, for his part, is more than open to the idea.
“Am I open to that? Of course—but that’s a matter between Wolverhampton and Ajax,” he concluded.
“I’m having a wonderful time here; the fans are amazing, as are the players and the club itself. I can only thank everyone.”
In the meantime, he’ll continue winning fans in the Ajax fanbase. And, it seems, with his manager Michel.
“How would I describe Tolu? As ‘The Special One,'” he said with a laugh.
“He has a spectacular personality. He’s a great guy and a fantastic teammate. He plays with his soul and possesses very specific qualities. That said, he could be even more involved in our style of play.”
