Nigeria striker Tolu Arokodare earns Italian recognition after blistering Ajax start

Tolu Arokodare has earned recognition from Italian football journalist Claudia Esposito, who has identified the Nigeria international among the standout talents at Ajax Amsterdam ahead of their European meeting with Atalanta.

Arokodare has made an impressive start to life in the Netherlands, scoring seven goals and providing two assists in 12 appearances across all competitions since joining Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers.

The striker moved to Amsterdam during the summer transfer window following Wolves’ relegation to the Championship, having attracted interest from Italian Serie A clubs Fiorentina and Genoa.

His performances have now caught the attention of Esposito, who handles exclusive interviews for TuttoAtalanta.com and highlighted the Nigerian forward when assessing the quality within Ajax’s squad.

Arokodare among Ajax’s standout talents

Speaking to Ajax Showtime ahead of Thursday’s European encounter, Esposito praised the quality available to Ajax and singled out Arokodare as one of the players worth watching.

“Ajax still possesses high-quality players and several promising young talents,” she said.

“Among the most interesting names are Oscar Gloukh, a talented attacking midfielder, Jorthy Mokio, a versatile midfielder, and Tolu Arokodare, a physically strong centre forward.”

Esposito also highlighted the potential of Abdellah Ouazane, while identifying Julian Brandt as another player capable of making a difference in the attacking third.

“The promising young Abdellah Ouazane is also worth mentioning. In addition, Julian Brandt is someone to keep a close eye on. The attacking midfielder stands out for his ability to create chances and score goals.”

Arokodare’s inclusion among the players identified by Esposito comes after his productive start in Amsterdam, where his physical presence and goalscoring ability have made him an important attacking option.

The Nigerian will be hoping to maintain that form as Ajax prepare to face Atalanta in the second league-phase match of the UEFA Conference League.

Italian clubs have history of signing Ajax stars

Arokodare’s earlier links with Fiorentina and Genoa underline the interest he attracted in Italy before settling on a move to the Netherlands.

The Serie A clubs have previously recruited Nigerian players from Ajax, with Sunday Oliseh joining Juventus and Nwankwo Kanu moving to Inter Milan during their respective careers.

Oliseh represented Juventus during the 1990s, while Kanu played for Inter after establishing himself as one of Nigeria’s most promising attacking talents.

Although Arokodare ultimately joined Ajax on loan from Wolves, his performances could keep him on the radar of clubs across Europe, particularly if he sustains his current scoring rate.

The 25-year-old striker’s immediate task, however, is to continue delivering for Ajax as they seek to improve their results in European competition.

Ajax prepare for Atalanta test

Ajax will host Atalanta at the Johan Cruijff ArenA on Thursday, October 22, in the second league-phase match of the UEFA Conference League.

The fixture presents Arokodare with an opportunity to test himself against Italian opposition, with the Nigerian forward looking to carry his domestic form into European action.

His performances will be closely watched as Ajax seek a positive result against the Serie A side, while his growing influence in attack offers the Dutch club another option as they navigate their European campaign.