Ex-Ajax coach hails Arokodare’s impact

Former Ajax and Borussia Dortmund manager Peter Bosz has praised Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare following his impressive start to life at the Dutch giants, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Arokodare joined Ajax from Wolverhampton Wanderers in the summer on a season-long loan deal with an option to make the move permanent, after struggling to establish himself as a regular during his first season in the Premier League.

The 25-year-old had previously made his mark in Belgium with Genk, finishing the 2024/25 campaign as the league’s leading scorer before earning his move to Wolves. He has quickly rediscovered that goalscoring form since returning to the Netherlands.

Arokodare has scored six goals in nine appearances for Ajax across all competitions this season, including three in the Eredivisie, while also providing two assists.

His performances have caught the attention of Bosz, who knows the Eredivisie well and currently manages Ajax’s rivals PSV Eindhoven.

Speaking to De Telegraaf, Bosz was asked about Ajax’s recruitment of experienced players during the summer transfer window and acknowledged the significant improvement to the squad.

“Ajax have strengthened enormously. They have opted for experience. A number of those players are doing very well,” Bosz said.

The PSV boss then singled out Arokodare as an unusual addition to the Dutch league, highlighting the physical qualities the Nigerian brings to Ajax’s attack.

“They have brought in a big striker, something we don’t really know in the Netherlands,” the 62-year-old said.

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“That is a quality injection for Ajax.”

At 1.97m, Arokodare offers Ajax a different attacking dimension, particularly with his height, physical strength and ability to provide an outlet when the team opts for a more direct approach.

More importantly, he has quickly translated those qualities into goals. The Nigerian opened his Eredivisie account against Telstar on August 30 before scoring against PSV and finding the net again against Excelsior in September.

His goals in European competition have taken his overall tally to six in nine appearances, underlining how quickly he has adapted to his new surroundings.

Arokodare’s resurgence represents a significant turnaround following a difficult debut season in England. The striker was largely restricted to substitute appearances during Wolves’ relegation campaign but still managed six goals across league and cup competitions.

His loan move to Ajax has provided the Nigerian with a more prominent role, and his early form has already raised the possibility of the Dutch club exercising the option to sign him permanently.

The revival is also encouraging for Nigeria, with Arokodare offering Super Eagles coach Eric Chelle another attacking option alongside established striker Victor Osimhen.

With his combination of height, mobility, physicality and goalscoring ability, Arokodare is developing into a different type of threat for the national team.

While Bosz’s comments were made in the context of Ajax’s recruitment, his assessment highlights why Arokodare’s emergence could prove valuable to both the Amsterdam club and the Super Eagles.