AFCON 2025
Tolu Arokodare wasted no time announcing himself at Ajax, scoring on his unofficial debut as the Dutch giants beat FC Volendam 3-1 in their final pre-season friendly on Sunday.
The Nigerian striker came off the bench and needed just 16 minutes to get on the scoresheet, capitalising on a goalkeeping error to seal the win.
Anton Gaaei had given Ajax the lead after a lively opening, before Marcos Leonardo doubled the advantage from the penalty spot following a foul on Oliver Edvardsen.
Volendam pulled one back after Ajax goalkeeper Joeri Heerkens fumbled a back-pass from Youri Baas, but Arokodare’s finish restored the two-goal cushion.
The goal is an early confidence boost for the 25-year-old, who joined Ajax this week on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers, with an option to buy reported at around 16 million Euros.
Arokodare is looking to rediscover the form that made him the Belgian top flight’s leading scorer with Genk in 2024/25, after a difficult debut season in England.
He has also spoken of his admiration for fellow Nigerian and Ajax legend Nwankwo Kanu, whose club records he now has the chance to chase.
