Tolu Arokodare: Ex-PSV star explains why Nigerian star is thriving at Ajax

Former PSV Eindhoven defender Jan Wuytens has shared his thoughts on Super Eagles striker Tolu Arokodare’s impressive start to life in the Dutch Eredivisie, Soccernet.ng reports.

Arokodare has enjoyed an impressive start to his career at Dutch giants Ajax, where he joined on a season-long loan deal from English Premier League side Wolverhampton Wanderers during the summer transfer window.

The Nigerian striker joined Wolves in the summer of 2025 after impressing at Belgian side Genk. His performances earned him the Ebony Shoe award and a move to the Premier League.

However, Arokodare endured a difficult spell at Wolves, while the club were also relegated from the Premier League at the end of the season.

Ajax player Toluwalase Arokodare. Copyright:Imago

Since joining Ajax, though, the 25-year-old's fortunes have taken a massive turn for the better. Tolu Arokodare enjoyed an impressive pre-season with the Dutch giants and has carried that form into the new campaign.

The Nigerian forward has scored five goals and provided two assists in eight appearances across all competitions, while he also played a major role in Ajax’s qualification for the league phase of the UEFA Conference League.

Jan Wuytens identifies qualities making Tolu Arokodare shine at Ajax

Arokodare missed Ajax’s impressive 5-1 win over Willem II on Tuesday night after falling ill, although he was named on the bench. He was not fit enough to feature as Ajax produced an excellent performance without him.

Speaking in an interview, Wuytens, who worked with Arokodare as an assistant manager during their time together at Genk, explained the qualities that have helped the Nigerian thrive at Ajax.

The former PSV defender also pointed to the similarities between Ajax’s style of play and the football Arokodare experienced at Genk.

Ajax player Toluwalase Arokodare scores against Sion. Copyright: Imago

“Tolu has a very special profile, he is a unique boy”, Wuytens began.

“When he came, he had to get used to our way of playing. We played a kind of Ajax football, with high pressure. He had a really hard time with that at the beginning: constantly making those sprint meters in pressing.

“But in his second season, Tolu really got loose at Genk, also because we started using him much more in his power.”

Wuytens also identified Arokodare’s combination of pace, strength and aerial ability, explaining how Genk eventually learned to use those qualities to get the best out of him.

“We started training more on crosses, throwing balls in the box. There Tolu is just unstoppable. He is very good in air, and also quite fast, then you have to bring him into his strength”, he continued.

“He himself also adapted better and better, especially to the pace of the game, because there are a lot of transition moments in Belgian football.

“He's a special boy. He has a kind of magic, that he can win everyone over at certain clubs..

“As a trainer, you really have to hit the right string with him, the perfect string, and you have to keep hitting it, to get him consistent. If you do that, you will get a killer on the field.

“That's the game you have to play with him: you want to bring him into a certain structure, in which he can also be himself. That's interesting. With us there have never been problems with being late or things like that.

“And in the end he really got going. He started scoring more and more, and we started using him better and better.

“He is holding the ball so strong that the rest can join. If you feed him with crosses, and people walking around him, he is a very interesting player”, Wuytens concluded.

AFC Ajax Amsterdam coach Michel Sanchez and forward Tolu Arokodare. Photo by DeFodi Images/Imago

Arokodare will be hoping to recover in time for Ajax’s game against Excelsior this weekend as they look to claim another victory and continue closing the gap on PSV at the top of the Eredivisie standings.

The Nigerian striker will also be hoping to be fit in time to make Nigeria’s squad for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers against Madagascar and Guinea-Bissau later this month.