Arokodare hits 100 career goals, says he wants to stay at Ajax
- Tolu Arokodare came off the bench to score Ajax's opener in a 2-0 Conference League win over Atalanta on Thursday.
- The goal took the Super Eagles striker to 100 in his professional career across Latvia, France, Belgium, England and the Netherlands.
- He said he is open to staying at Ajax, where he is on a season-long loan from Wolves.
Tolu Arokodare has reached 100 goals in professional football, and the Super Eagles striker used the moment to say he would like to make his stay at Ajax permanent.
The 25-year-old came off the bench in the 66th minute of Ajax's UEFA Conference League match against Atalanta on Thursday and scored the opening goal in the 87th, controlling a long pass from Youri Baas before finishing past goalkeeper Marco Carnesecchi. Ajax won 2-0 at the Johan Cruijff Arena, with 17-year-old substitute Abdellah Ouazane adding a second in stoppage time.
After the match, Arokodare posted on social media that he was grateful for the path he has taken. He thanked God and the people who helped him along the way, adding that "the journey continues."
From Latvia to Amsterdam
His century has been built in several countries. He scored 22 goals for Valmiera in Latvia, 21 while on loan at Amiens in France, 41 for Genk in Belgium, six for Wolves in England and two for Nigeria. He now has eight for Ajax since joining on a season-long loan from Wolves in the summer.
The win was Ajax's first in this season's Conference League league phase, after an opening defeat to Hajduk Split. It also ended a run of eight matches without a win against Italian clubs stretching back to April 2019.
Ajax coach Míchel Sánchez said he sent Arokodare on to give his side more presence in the box, and that the substitutions changed the game. He described the Nigerian as a special player and said the two have a good relationship.
Arokodare said the performance was the kind of football Ajax want to play after a spell of draws and defeats. "We're a top-level team with great players, and we want to show our talent," he said.
What happens next
On his future, Arokodare said he is open to staying in the Netherlands if Ajax take up the option to buy him from Wolves. He said he likes the club, the fans and the team, and that he plans to speak with technical director Jordi Cruijff about making the move permanent.
Ajax travel to Denmark to face Midtjylland in the Conference League on November 5.
