Tolu Arokodare needed just three minutes on the pitch to make his mark on his Ajax debut, setting up the opener as the Eredivisie giants began the new season with a win at PEC Zwolle.
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Tolu Arokodare marked his Ajax debut with an assist as the Eredivisie giants opened their new season with a 2-0 away win over PEC Zwolle, giving the Super Eagles striker an ideal start to life in the Netherlands.
Arokodare started the game on the bench and replaced Abdellah Ouazane in the 73rd minute. He made an almost immediate impact, setting up Jorthy Mokio for the opening goal just three minutes after his introduction. Julian Brandt doubled Ajax’s advantage deep into stoppage time, with Mika Godts providing the assist for the second.
The Nigerian joined Ajax on a season-long loan from Wolverhampton Wanderers last month, with the Dutch club holding an option to make the move permanent for around 22 million euros plus performance related add-ons at the end of the campaign. Fans following his fresh start can check Bet9ja’s current promo code ahead of Ajax’s next Eredivisie fixture.
The move gives Arokodare a genuine chance to rebuild after a difficult debut season in the Premier League, where he struggled to find consistent form following his big money switch from Genk. A goal contribution on his first appearance in Amsterdam colours is exactly the kind of early confidence boost he’ll be hoping to build on.
His career path has been anything but conventional. Arokodare’s professional journey has now taken him through five European countries, starting in Latvia with Valmiera, where he scored 22 goals in 34 matches, before loan spells at Cologne in Germany and Amiens in France, a breakout stint at Genk in Belgium, a move to Wolves in England, and now Ajax in the Netherlands. New Bet9ja users following his career can check how to get the Bet9ja promotion code before the Eredivisie season gets fully underway.
It was at Genk where he truly announced himself, finishing the 2024/25 Belgian Pro League season as top scorer with 21 goals and winning the Belgian Golden Shoe as the division’s best African player, form that persuaded Wolves to hand him a four year Premier League contract.
On the international stage, Arokodare made his Super Eagles debut as a substitute for Victor Osimhen against Rwanda, and scored his first goal for Nigeria in a 1-1 draw with Russia in June 2025. Punters following the Super Eagles’ attacking options can check Bet9ja’s YOHAIG code as the new club season builds momentum.
Ajax will next host Heerenveen in the Eredivisie on Sunday, before turning their attention to the second leg of their UEFA Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie against Shelbourne in Dublin, where they hold a commanding 3-1 lead from the first leg. For Arokodare, a debut assist is the perfect opening statement as he looks to force his way into a more regular role.
📌 Did You Know?
- Arokodare stands 1.97 metres tall and is known for his aerial ability and hold-up play.
- He started out at Kash Academy, Flying Sports Academy and Box2Box FC in Lagos before moving to Europe in 2019.
- He turned professional in Latvia with Valmiera, scoring 22 goals in 34 matches before loan moves to Cologne and Amiens.
- Arokodare won the Belgian Golden Shoe in 2025 after finishing as the Belgian Pro League’s top scorer with 21 goals for Genk.
- He made his Super Eagles debut as a substitute for Victor Osimhen against Rwanda.
- His first international goal came in a 1-1 draw with Russia in June 2025.
- Ajax hold an option to sign Arokodare permanently from Wolves for around 22 million euros at the end of the loan.
